Carl Froch believes Tyson Fury will gas out if he fails to score a knockout of Oleksandr Usyk by the fourth round on Saturday. Froch thinks Fury’s weight is too high at 281 lbs for him to keep from fading and losing to unified heavyweight champion Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) in their rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
If ‘Gyspy King’ Fury does fade after three or four rounds, he’s likely get knocked out by Usyk. The referee who saved Fury last time with his timely standing eight count in round nine won’t be working the rematch on Saturday. So, Tyson will be alone, needing to get himself out of hot water without a helping hand.
Fury decided to bulk up with the desperate belief that he could use the weight to gain more strength and perhaps lean on Usyk to wear him down. He’d used those tactics against Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, and Derek Chisora.
That style was taught to Fury by his trainer SugarHill Steward, but it was only a game plan that worked against the limited three fighters above. It was ineffective against Fury’s last two opponents, Usyk and Francis Ngannou.
Endurance Doubts
“Just the confidence, the smile, and the poise of Usyk. He just oozes class today. With the first fight going the way it went in round nine, I made him the favorite all week, and I’m even more confident,” said Carl Froch to Matchroom Boxing, picking Oleksandr Usyk to win on Saturday night in his defense against Tyson Fury.
“You can’t write off Tyson. He’s a big lad; he’s strong, but I think that’s too heavy [281 lbs]. That’s 20 stone. If you don’t get him out of there in the first three or four rounds, he’s going to blow a gasget. He’s going to fill that extra weight himself. I don’t think he’s done himself any extra favors.
“I might be wrong. He might go in there and lean on Usyk, catch him, and try to get him out of there. That must be his game plan,” said Froch.
It appears that Fury lacks confidence in himself, and his trainer, Sugarhill, has no ideas other than the game plan that worked for the Wilder fight. Fury has bulked up with one idea: to try to bully Usyk.
“Take off the leather clothing, and let’s say he’s down to 277. He’s been there before. I haven’t liked him at that weight,” said commentator Steve Bunce about Fury. “That’s when he’s slow and cumbersome. That’s obviously the plan. That’s a great plan, but what happens in round six if Usyk has avoided all the danger. All that weight takes a toll.
“Usyk, with his clothes on, he’s probably exactly the same as he was in the last fight because that’s what he is. He’s a scientist.”
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