One of the key words in the run-up to the May 18 undisputed clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is “size.” The former is a colossal super heavyweight, while his opponent has risen from the cruiserweight pision. But will size be decisive in Riyadh?
Fury, 35, stands 6-foot-9 and has a reach of 85 inches. “The Gypsy King” hovered around the 250-pound mark during his rise and weighed 247 when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. Recently, however, Fury has been campaigning at approximately 270 pounds and scored 277.7, the heaviest weight of his career, for his victory in close points. on Francis Ngannou in October.
Usyk, 37, is 6-foot-3 and has a reach of 78 inches. Of his 21 fights, 16 of them took place at the 200-pound cruiser limit, a pision in which he became undisputed champion. Since he moved up to heavyweight in late 2019, Usyk weighs between 215 and 221 pounds. He gave up 19 pounds to Anthony Joshua when he dethroned the British star in September 2021.
LOOK: Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, live on DAZN
Does it sound like an impossible mission for Usyk? Well, history shows that its dimensions, and even its style, are eerily similar to The Greatest of All Time.
How big was Muhammad Ali in his prime?
Muhammad Ali was 6 feet 3 inches tall and had a reach of 80 inches.
For his first world title in 1964, Ali weighed 210 ½ pounds against Sonny Liston. A decade later, Ali regained the title from George Foreman and weighed in at 216 pounds. Finally, in September 1978, Ali became the first three-time heavyweight champion in history when he outpointed Leon Spinks. His weight for that fight was 221 pounds.
Yes, there is a “but” coming…
While Ali was almost identical in size to Usyk, his opponents were nowhere near the same size as Fury. Liston and Foreman, monsters for their time, weighed 218 and 220 pounds, respectively, while Spinks weighed only 201.
Could Muhammad Ali have beaten Tyson Fury?
For many lovers of Muhammad Ali nostalgia, this question might be something of an insult, but it’s worth exploring.
The tallest opponent in the world Ali faced was Ernie Terrell, who stood 6 feet 6 inches and weighed the same as Ali, 212 pounds.
The heaviest contender Ali ever faced was 256-pound Buster Mathis, but “The Greatest” was taller than his rotund foe, who struggled to land a worthwhile shot.
Bottom line: Ali arrived before the super heavyweight era began, so it’s very difficult to compare him to the likes of Fury and Klitschko.
What do Muhammad Ali and Oleksandr Usyk have in common as fighters?
Before we get into some serious analysis, Ali and Usyk share the same birthday, January 17, and are both former Olympic champions.
However, stylistically there are many similarities. Usyk is one of the best moving fighters the heavyweight pision has seen in decades. Being smaller, he is faster on his feet and his reflexes are magnificent. Who does that remind you of?
Like Ali, Usyk is a master of the feint, which he uses to gain an advantage before punishing his opponents on the counterattack. His jab, another signature move of his predecessor, is a very sharp and precise punch that can dictate the flow of a fight.
Defensively, Usyk may not be as skilled as a ’60s version of Ali, but he’s not easy to hit either. He moves his head constantly, changes levels, and it’s difficult to land more than one hit cleanly. Like Ali, he is also incredibly versatile and smart in the ring.
Another intangible Ali had was fighting with guts, something Usyk has shown in spades. Every time Joshua scored big against him, he immediately responded with something better. This gave Usyk a huge psychological advantage during the 24 rounds those fighters shared.
The main difference between them is that Ali was an orthodox fighter, while Usyk is southpaw. For the most part, that’s a plus. However, maybe not against Fury, who is an excellent switch-hitter.
Has Oleksandr Usyk defeated bigger fighters?
Usyk has been the smaller man against every heavyweight he has faced. And he has defeated them all.
- Chazz Witherspoon It was 242 to 215 for Usyk
- Derek Chisora it was from 255 ½ to 217 ¼ for Usyk
- Antonio Joshua It was 240 to 221 ¼ for Usyk in the first fight
- Antonio Joshua it was 244 ½ to 221 ½ for Usyk in the second fight
- Daniel Dubois It was 233 ½ to 221 for Usyk
LOOK: Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, live on DAZN
Does Tyson Fury have problems with smaller fighters?
The last time Fury fought a former cruiserweight world champion, he was put on his back.
Former IBF 200-pound champion Steve Cunningham dropped the Englishman with a big right hand in the second round of their 2013 clash in New York. However, just as he has done every other time in his career, Fury found his way and won the fight. Cunningham was knocked out in the seventh.
