By Sam Volz: Trainer Malik Scott wants the winner of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk undisputed clash to face former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Considering that Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) is expected to defeat IBF, WBA & WBO champion Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs), it’s unlikely that he’ll willingly agree to fight Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs).
Fury has already beaten Wilder twice, and there’s no demand for a fourth fight between them.
Fury’s options after Usyk
1. Joe Joyce
2. Daniel Dubois
3. Anthony Joshua
4. Andy Ruiz Jr
5. Deontay Wilder
Tyson has already said that if victorious against Usyk, he wants to face WBO interim champion Joe Joyce next in 2023.
If Fury gets through that fight in one piece, he’ll need to decide whether to defend against his WBA mandatory Daniel Dubois or possibly fight Anthony Joshua.
A rematch with Usyk could also be possible at some point for Fury, depending on how competitive their fight is and how much money it brings in. If the fight pulls in an absurd amount of PPV buys, it increases the chances for a rematch.
Fury vs. Usyk winner determined by skills
Malik Scott believes that Fury’s fight with Usyk comes down to whoever is the better boxer. Scott feels that Fury’s size won’t be a factor in this fight because Usyk has the technical skills to negate that and outbox him.
Fury has become predictable in the last three years with the way he wraps his opponents up in a bear-like hug and then leans on them. He’s become so utterly predictable and simple.
To beat Usyk, Fury would need to have a lot more variations to his game than just the one move that he does with his grab & lean approach.
“Oleksandr says he wants 50-50 split, and they’re fighting in England. Tell me about that,” said Ellie Sechback to ESNEWS, speaking to trainer Malik Scott about the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight in March or April.
“This is Fury, right? Honestly, I just want to see these fights happen, and I want Deontay [Wilder] to get the winner of it. 50-50? No,” said Malik Scott about Fury-Usyk.
“50-50,” said Scott when asked who wins the Usyk vs. Fury fight. “I bet if I ask you why Fury beats Usyk, you’ll say because of Fury’s size. I think this fight is going to come down more to boxing skills than size.
“Size can be handled accordingly if someone knows how to handle it, but I think that fight is going to come down to actual skills. Usyk would have to punch up, and Fury will be high up. Especially when you’re punching down at a slick southpaw,” said Malik.