WBC heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury 34-0-1 (24) simply had an off night against Francis Ngannou and will almost certainly perform better against WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk 21-0 (14) when they clash in Saudi Arabia on February 17.
Last month Britain’s Fury, 35, climbed on the canvas in the third round and laboured to a split decision victory against boxing debutant and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou 0-1 in Saudi Arabia last month.
Critics said it proved he would lose against 36-year-old Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, but his co-promoter Bob Arum has forgiven that performance and says a better version of Fury will be in the ring the next time around.
“Going in with Ngannou, who showed himself to be very talented, nobody had a book on him because he never had a prize fight,” the Top Rank boss told Sky Sports.
“Fighting Usyk is totally different because they have reams and reams of film on Usyk. I think Tyson will be a lot better prepared against Usyk than he was against Ngannou.
“I have great confidence in Tyson Fury. He’s a great competitor and he’ll be at his best against Usyk.
“I really believe Fury against Usyk will be a classic match.”
Meanwhile, retired former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson forgives Fury for his subpar performance against Ngannou, saying he expects Fury’s superior size to eventually prevail over Usyk’s mobility.
“We should [not focus on what Fury did against Ngannou], but you have to understand he is still the champion,” Tyson told Fight Hub TV.
“He made that night a great night. He gave Francis the opportunity and that was just a bad night at the office for him. We all have bad nights and listen, that was his bad night.
“I look forward to that fight [between Fury and Usyk]. That is going to be an interesting fight. I’m going towards Tyson Fury because I think he’s just going to overpower him. He’s going to catch up with him and overpower him.
“I got to go with Fury. I think he’s the best fighter in the world, especially in the heavyweight division. Great fighters lose, great fighters look bad, that doesn’t stop them from being great fighters.”
But Usyk was quick to tell Fury to his face at the London presser last week that his size would count for nothing once they were in the prize ring.
“Yes, I’m little man,” the former undisputed cruiserweight champion said. “To you, I’m a little man. But I’m a bigger champion.”
He added: “I want to tell one story which looks similar to our story with Tyson. That is David and Goliath. When the Lord gives me Tyson in my hands, I will do my job.”
