International Boxing Hall of Famer Carl Froch has praised Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for finally coming to terms for their mega-fight.
For the better part of the year it looked like we would never see the four-belt heavyweight unification bout between WBC titleholder Fury 33-0-1 (24) and WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine champion after negotiations broke down over money.
But over the weekend a surprise announcement was made that the deal was done for the pair to face off in Saudi Arabia on a date to be determined.
Usyk was last in action in August when he turned back the challenge of Daniel Dubois in nine rounds. Fury has a fight scheduled in Saudi Arabia on October 28 when he takes on boxing debutant and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a 10-round non-title fight.
Retired former super middleweight champion Froch says it is the fight that boxing needed.
“It’s something we needed – an undisputed heavyweight champion. Fucking brilliant,” Froch told Best Gambling Sites.
“Fair play to everybody involved. I think Frank Warren has done a fantastic job getting it over the line and I’m really pleased, not only as a fan but for the sport of boxing, and I hope it happens.
“I’m a bit skeptical that it’s going to happen a month or so after the Ngannou fight, but then again it will probably be that easy for Fury to beat Ngannou – he’ll just use it as a sparring session – and then maybe he does go into the Usyk fight straight after.
“I can make a case of Usyk beating Fury, he has the skills and the ability and he’s used to fighting bigger guys since he entered the heavyweight division, he’s thicker set and he’s put a bit of weight on, and he seems to be able to hold his own. But he is getting older and slowing down a little bit, but so is Fury, so he could outbox, outwork and outskill him.
“Also is Fury at his best? He puts weight on between fights. He’s carrying a lot of belly fat around, he’s got love handles, and if Fury is not firing on all cylinders and Usyk turns up and puts on a career best performance, Usyk will win and win comfortably.
“But I just think it’s going to be taken seriously by both of them – and a good Fury beats a good Usyk in a good very close fight and an awkward fight.
“I think Fury nullifies his work and ties him up. I’m not so sure if he gets the stoppage. I just think that the size of Fury will be a problem. I don’t think Usyk can make that range up against the six-foot-nine Fury.”
