By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury’s promoter Bob Arum says he’s already had “positive conversations” for an undisputed heavyweight clash with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk for later this year in December.
If Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) wins his rematch with Anthony Joshua on August 20th, Arum will look to make the undisputed fight between him and WBC champion Fury for the end of the year.
As long as Fury doesn’t price himself out with his half-a billion request to take part in the undisputed match, we could have an interesting fight this year.
“I would hope to do that fight in December maybe, or early next year,” said Bob Arum to Barbershop Conversations about the undisputed heavyweight bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
“Robert Garcia has been added, and we’d like to see the changes in Joshua. There must be a change because he can’t come out and be the same as he was last time,” said George Groves to Secondsout.
“I feel like they’re doing Usyk an injustice when they say, ‘He [Joshua] needs to get back to his old ways when he’d come out.’ He was never just raggedy, coming out swinging and using his power.
“He was always pretty metaphorical in the way he would try and approach a fight. It’s just with a bit more experience, and people are assuming he’s a little bit more gunshy now since the Ruiz fight. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.
“I think he needs to use his jab as an authority thing, and he needs to whack him hard. You need to punch with this guy [Usyk] because you can’t try and punch after him. He’s too quick, and he takes great angles.
“As soon as he touches you with something, [you need to tag him back]. So as soon as he goes touch, swing something back. Joshua does have that element where he does tire as the fight goes on, but I think he may need to think of this as a six-round fight rather than a 12-round fight and try and get rid of him.
“He’s got the size advantage. If you ask a non-boxing guy who is going to win, they’re always going to pick Joshua because he’s such a bigger man. I think Usyk has probably got his number and will probably be even better in the rematch,” said Groves.
