Former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton is pulling no punches in his predictions ahead of Tyson Fury's generational duel against Oleksandr Usyk.
The boxing world will be treated to a unification clash that promises to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. A breakthrough in negotiations means a fight that had looked lost is now close to materialising, once Fury has got his bout against Francis Ngannou on October 28 out of the way.
And while Hatton may be somewhat biased considering he's cornered 'The Gypsy King' in the past, he's feeling all but certain of the end result. Usyk, 36, will bring the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO belts to Saudi Arabia, but it's WBC titleholder Fury who has his backing.
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“I think he is but it’s not beyond the realms of impossibility [Usyk wins]," said Hatton in a recent interview with Mighty Tips. "When you think Tyson has the height, the reach, he can box southpaw, orthodox, stand there, sit in there and have fight, he can sit and sway and move and make you miss off the backfoot.
"He can lean, counterpunch, he does everything Usyk does, and he’s got the strength and weight advantage. But it’s not a foregone conclusion. I can’t see anything other than a Tyson win."
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Hatton, 45, has shown support for his fellow Mancunian and believes Fury will prove too much for former cruiserweight king Usyk. The Ukrainian has bested Brits in each of his last four fights after overcoming Anthony Joshua (twice), Derek Chisora and most recently Daniel Dubois.
But according to Hatton, Fury will represent a step up in class that Usyk isn't prepared to match, even if 'The Cat' isn't your typical 'big lump heavyweight', as he puts it. Hatton – who was part of Fury's team for his first fight against Deontay Wilder – acknowledged 'nippy' Usyk presents a different kind of conundrum Fury won't be used to, but hardly one he isn't primed to overcome.
KSI takes on Tommy Fury at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday, October 14th as he hopes to cause an upset. Logan Paul will also be fighting at the event in front of what is expected to be a sell-out crowd.
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“Usyk has a good chin, but I don’t think he’s been hit by someone of the size of Tyson," added 'The Hitman'. "The main problem is Tyson is used to fighting 20-stone heavyweights.
"It’ll be difficult for Tyson but he’ll prepare properly in the gym, and I think he will have his game plan sorted and win the fight. But if it did go the other way I wouldn’t go ‘wow that is a shock’, but you would have to be a brave man to go against Tyson because of all the advantages he has.”
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