Malik Scott is confident that the “Gypsy King” won't be able to beat the Ukrainian.
Malik Scott, the trainer of former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch between WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO title holder Oleksandr Usyk and former champion Tyson Fury.
“I just think Usyk is too stubborn for Fury to handle. I think the punches that hurt you the most are the ones you don't see. You don't have to be a big puncher to cause problems for your opponents. Usyk understands that well.
Fans think Tyson is bigger, so he can just walk up to him. Hell, no one can just walk up to Usyk. I think Fury will get beat up even more if he just walks up to him. He'll fall into all sorts of traps. I don't think Tyson can beat Usyk,” Seconds Out quotes the trainer as saying.
The Usyk-Fury rematch will take place on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All the titles the Ukrainian boxer holds will be on the line.
Unlike the first fight, this time the title of absolute world champion will not be at stake, since Alexander had previously renounced the IBF title. Now it is owned by Briton Daniel Dubois, who has already managed to defend it by knocking out his compatriot Anthony Joshua.
Recall that on the night of May 19, 2024, Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in a fight for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion. At the end of the ninth round, Alexander knocked his opponent down.
Thus, Alexander defended the WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF belts, and also took the WBC title from the “Gypsy King”. Usyk became the first absolute world champion in the heavyweight division in the 21st century.
Before that, the last “absolute” heavyweight champion was Lennox Lewis, who won this status in 1999, when he defeated Evander Holyfield. At that time, the WBA, WBC and IBF titles were at stake. The WBO belt was recognized as equal in 2007, so Usyk became the first “absolute” heavyweight champion in history with four main titles.