Heavyweight veteran Derek Chisora is backing Tyson Fury in his upcoming undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
Chisora gave Usyk all he could handle when they met in 2020. There were many close rounds, with Usyk winning on margins of 7-5 on two scorecards.
Chisora faced Fury three times in his career. They met for the third and final time last December - and Fury battered Chisora for a stoppage in ten.
Fury and Usyk will collide for the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC world titles on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
Chisora was ringside last month in Riyadh, where Fury was nearly derailed in a crossover fight with MMA veteran Francis Ngannou, who was making his pro debut.
While Chisora is picking Fury, he believes the 'Gypsy King' could be in real trouble if he shows up as the same fighter who went against Ngannou.
“I would pick Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk, but if it’s the same Fury that boxed Francis Ngannou then I don’t think he will. When you fight in Saudi you arrive on a Monday, at the same time you will have to attend everything, dinners, meetings, press conferences and there are plenty of distractions. On the day of the fight you’ll still be having dinner with your host and then the first time you’re free is when you’re walking to the ring and if you don’t, you’re disrespecting the culture," Chisora told Up Front with Simon Jordan.
Chisora believes he showed everyone the exact tactics on how to overcome an opponent like Uysk, by applying constant pressure and throwing punches in bunches.
“I think I showed everyone the blueprint of how to fight Usyk,” Chisora said. “But people have chosen not to use it. Be fit and use your size. I said that to Daniel Dubois and he didn’t do it. For me, the thing with Usyk is that when he starts moving his hands up and down and you start moving with him, you’re in trouble. What you need to do is just hit him when he moves his hands. He’s very good, he’s an amazing fighter, but if you let him be an amazing fighter then he’ll walk all over you."
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