Tyson Fury branded a 'little bit stupid' as blockbuster Oleksandr Usyk announcement nears

Tyson Fury boxing

Tyson Fury has been widely criticised with Oleksandr Usyk announcement looming

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 12/11/2023

- 17:36

The Gypsy King is expected to face the Ukrainian in February

Oleksandr Usyk's promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has claimed Tyson Fury looked 'a little bit stupid' during his recent win over Francis Ngannou.

The Gypsy King won via split decision, having been floored in round three of the bout.


Ngannou impressed many during the fight, with the former UFC star making his boxing debut.

Krassyuk was among those left impressed by the 37-year-old, who is now expected to fight again on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Tyson Fury Francis Ngannou

Tyson Fury was underwhelming during his recent boxing win over Francis Ngannou

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And Usyk's promoter feels Ngannou made Fury look 'a little bit stupid' during their fight.

He told ProBox TV: "He looked good.

“Boxing-wise, with all due respect, he hasn’t got the best boxing skills or boxing IQ, but his determination and his concentration was very good.

"He was very motivated and very focused, very disciplined! That’s what made him look like that.

"He didn’t have much tactics, but his tactics were sufficient to make Tyson look a little bit stupid fighting a guy having his pro debut in boxing.

"I heard many rumours that Tyson Fury was getting himself prepared to his very best.

"But, when you look at someones body, you can tell if he trained or whether he was chilling in the gym.

"It doesn’t matter how eat or how much you sleep, but if you do it consistently over a couple of months, you can definitely see it on his body."

Krassyuk also claimed Fury will struggle against Usyk, having been 'punished' for underestimating Ngannou.

“Remember when Andy Ruiz knocked [Anthony] Joshua out, he also didn’t look fit but when he started to train you immediately notice it on his body," he continued.

"Even though he still has fat on his body, his movements were sharp, he was concentrated and his reactions were better.

"Tyson Fury did not have that sense of distance against Ngannou, any trainer will tell you that this is the first sign that the fighter did not do any sparring, if they don’t have that sense of distance when they are trying to punch someone.

"He just couldn’t find the distance to hit his opponent.

"He was trying, it was either too far or too close. He couldn’t use his jab.

"The worst thing about Tyson Fury is that he doesn’t know how to deal with a southpaw.

"That is the worst thing about him fighting Usyk, he doesn’t know the concept.

"He doesn’t know when to step in and out of his attacks. Just a normal technical mistake, he has done it a lot.

"He tries to switch to southpaw himself to give himself an advantage.

"Every time he tried this against Ngannou, he was punished.”

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Tyson Fury boxing Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury is set to go up against Oleksandr Usyk in February

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Fury had been due to face Usyk in December.

However, with the Briton needing more time to recover, a February announcement is expected instead.

Fury and Usyk will be fighting for four belts when they finally step into the ring, too.

And who ends up winning the showdown is something only time will tell.

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