Tyson Fury could sensationally pull out of his upcoming undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk on February 17, claims a former welterweight world champion.
Fury is set to go up against the feared Ukrainian fighter for all the marbles in Saudi Arabia next month after negotiations stretching back to last year.
The Gypsy King’s last fight saw him come through a scare against former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou in what was his first pro boxing bout – which has led to punters believing Usyk has a good chance of defeating him.
Fury had been shockingly dropped in the third round of the contest against Ngannou and there have been questions over his condition – with his own father John telling Mail Sport that he looked well off the pace.
And after seeing Fury sidestep Usyk last year before being rocked by the powerful Cameroonian – who he beat ona split decision – there has been claims that he may choose to avoid Usyk too.
Tyson Fury could pull out of his undisputed bout with Oleksandr Usyk, according to a former welterweight champion
Fury is scheduled to face Usyk for all the marbles in Saudi Arabia on February 17
Former IBF and WBC champion Shawn Porter feels Fury may avoid having another ‘hard night’
‘You look at a guy like Tyson Fury, a guy who has been around this track so many times,’ said Shawn Porter – who was a two-time welterweight champion having held the IBF belt from 2013 to 2014 and the WBC title from 2018 to 2019 – speaking to ProBox TV.
‘I think that a fighter will get to a point where they see the hardest night ahead of them and they’re like, ‘Man, I just had so many of those hard nights, I am not going to have that hard night.’
‘What we know about Tyson Fury is that he is a showman, what we know about Tyson Fury is that he likes things to be his way or no way.
‘Which is why he went after Francis Ngannou, because those are the kind of fights that he is looking for.
‘He is looking for things that are going to give him the money and the recognition and the nights that he is not going to have to train hard for anymore.’
Fury was stunned by Francis Ngannou in October as he was floored in the third round – before sealing a narrow points win
Fury has als been tipped for a future fight against Anthony Joshua – who has recently announced his own huge Saudi Arabia showdown with Ngannou.
The winner of that could face the winner of his bout with Usyk, though fans could be waiting for a while if rematch clauses are triggered.
Usyk himself said he was incredibly confident of beating Fury, saying it was ‘a matter of ‘when’, not ‘if’ he became victorious.
‘Firstly, it’s not “if” I win but “when” I win,’ Usyk said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
‘When I go to sleep I imagine myself boxing, then my hand raised high. I simply believe that I can win.’
At his opening press conference with Usyk last month, Fury hurled a series of insults at his rival, labelling him ‘a rabbit’ and ‘a sausage’, while also trying to intimidate him at their first face-off.
Usyk is certain he will beat Fury when they fight each other in February
Usyk managed to keep his cool, which only appeared to fire up Fury even more.
Reflecting on how things panned out, Usyk believes he already has the mental edge over the ‘Gypsy King’.
‘I got into his head and now instead of me, he thinks about a rabbit. Keep thinking, brother,’ Usyk added.
‘I have listened to Eminem for many years, his mum used to call him a white rabbit. I don’t know, I like this rapper.
‘Tony Bellew once said that I am a beast in boxing, I said: “Not really, I’m just a white rabbit.”‘