16 May 2024 , 17:00
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In Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury will face a man who has done it all.
He won all but 15 of his 350 amateur fights, collecting European, World and Olympic gold medals along the way. He was crowned undisputed cruiserweight world champion after 15 professional bouts and dominated Anthony Joshua to become the unified heavyweight ruler three fights later. And on Saturday night he will attempt to succeed where Evander Holyfield failed against Lennox Lewis and complete his set of belts in boxing's premier division.
But Fury insists he was far more fazed by the prospect of facing the destructive Deontay Wilder than the unbeaten Ukrainian. After a controversial draw in their first meeting, Fury stopped Wilder in their rematch before putting a concussive end to the rivalry in their third and final showdown. But the Brit was knocked down four times over the 30 rounds and later revealed he feared the trilogy had left him with brain damage.
Slick southpaw Usyk promises to pose a very different challenge and Fury said: "I don't think this is bigger than the second Wilder fight. That was America vs Britain and it was a monstrous fight. We were locking the doors with 10,000 people at the weigh-in. I don't think it will be as big as that, but on the other hand we have all the belts for undisputed so it's all to play for.
"As for fear factor, would I fear a man who was 42-0 with 41 knockouts or a man who is 21-0 with 14 KOs? Which one would any sensible person fear? Smaller guys are a bit tricky but when I get hold of them it's goodnight, curtains." Fury won his first world titles by out-foxing long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 before turning his style on its head against Wilder five years later to beat up the hard-hitting American inside seven rounds.
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The Brit is expected to use his four-stone weight and six-inch height advantages to bully Usyk and teased a southpaw stance during a workout this week. Usyk attempted to play Fury at his own mind games by adopting an unlikely orthodox position ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
But Fury added: "The best version of me is any version where I'm happy because at the end of the day that's why I do it. If it was making me sad I wouldn't be doing it. I'm always happy when I'm boxing. I don't mind which way I win, each fight is different to the previous one. I've fought many different styles in my career. I've fought a few southpaws, not many, but I'm looking forward to an interesting challenge.
"If it's as tough as people say then I'm going to be enjoying myself, if it's not then I'm going to be disappointed. Actually, my brother Shane said not to say things like that because they'll come true! So I want an easy fight, it's going to be easy and I'm going to smash him into next week."