Tyson Fury: Ustinov is a step up from Chisora

I Believe Ustinov is a step up from chisora only lost 1 to pulev

— Tyson Luke Fury (@Tyson_Fury) July 23, 2014

By Scott Gilfoid: Well, #4 WBO Tyson Fury (22-0, 16 KOs) is arguably putting his career on the line this Saturday night against the 6′ 7½″, 300 pound Alexander Ustinov (29-1, 21 KO’s) in their fight at the Phones 4U Arena in Manchester, UK. Fury is calling it an upgrade from his previously scheduled opponent Dereck Chisora, and I think he may be right. He’s not getting any arguments from me on that one.

Chisora was someone that had tried his best but who had been smacked down each time he stepped it up against actual world level competition. At least with Ustinov, you’ve got a guy with some size, talent and experience that will put Fury in a position where he could end up getting blasted out in front of his own fans. You’ve got to feel a little sorry for Chisora. In his big moment his body broke down on him and left him on the sidelines.

This fight actually has some unknowns involved. You couldn’t say that with the Fury-Chisora 2 fight. That fight just looked like a needless money grab given that they had already fought previously with Fury winning a wide 12 round decision three years ago.

Fury said on his twitter “Got new Opponent for Saturday. Alexander Ustinov number 8 IBF number 9 WBA . 29/1/22ko 6″8 tall can’t wait better fight than Delboy Chisora.”

Fury also said this “Just woke up from a dream that I was spanking @dellboychisora & @BronzeBomber round the ring together. While jabbing @BSTIVERNE outer ring!!”

Obviously, that was a dream because a fight between Fury and Deontay might end up as a terrible nightmare for him if Deontay were to nail him with a few of his huge right hands in the 1st round. If Fury couldn’t take those right hands, which I have my doubts, he’d be KO number 32 on the Deontay’s perfect (31-0, 31 KOs) resume.

Ustinov was sparring Chisora during his final sparring session in which Chisora suffered a hand injury. It’s unknown what Ustinov did for Chisora to hurt his hand, but it might have been him blocking it. Chisora likes to throw looking shots, and Ustinov is very good at picking off those guys of punches with his arms.

Fury is going to need to come up with some new tricks if he wants to beat Ustinov because this guy is a real live dog and he very well could send Fury’s career down the drain if he touches his chin with one of his big right hands.

As we’ve already seen, Fury’s chin isn’t what I would call the best in the world. He’s been sent down a number of times by non-punchers, and barely survived a knockdown last year by small heavyweight Steve Cunningham. I mean, if Cunningham was able to put Fury onto his backside then what can the hard hitting Ustinov do to him once he nailed him with a big shot?

Fury said “He [Ustinov] must fancy his chances. We’re two gladiators, but he’s going to feel what it like against a world class heavyweight like me.”

Ustinov definitely fancies his chances against Fury. He likely sees him as a rusty fighter without much power and with a weak chin just begging to be nailed with a big right hand. This is Ustinov’s big chance to put himself into the Wladimir Klitschko equation.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Wladimir gives Ustinov a title shot straightway instead of making him wait like he probably would do against Fury. All Fury’s yapping has probably put Wladimir off so he’d make him wait until he absolutely has to fight him.