Fury says 鈥榮ize matters鈥� as聽undisputed heavyweight world title bout against聽Usyk looms

Britain's Tyson Fury (L) and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk during a press conference, in London, on Nov. 16, 2023, ahead of their undisputed heavyweight world championship contest set for Feb. 17, 2024 but was rescheduled for May 18, 2024 in Riyadh. (File/AFP)
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  • The clash, in Riyadh, was rescheduled for May 18 after it was postponed because the British boxer suffered a cut in training earlier this year
  • Fury, who had a split-decision win over former mixed martial arts champion Francis Ngannou in October, wants to stamp his authority on the heavyweight division

LONDON: Tyson Fury said Wednesday that 鈥渟ize matters鈥� as he counts down to his undisputed heavyweight world title fight with Oleksandr Usyk in 黑料社区 next month.

The clash, in Riyadh, was rescheduled for May 18 after it was postponed because the British boxer suffered a cut in training earlier this year.

Usyk holds the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts while Fury is the WBC champion.

Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk has won all of his 21 professional bouts, while Fury has 33 victories and one draw on his record.

The Ukrainian, 37, won his heavyweight titles by beating Britain鈥檚 Anthony Joshua in 2021 and has defended his belts twice, including in an August 2022 rematch with Joshua.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen some stuff in the media that this is really personal between me and Oleksandr Usyk,鈥� Fury said at a press conference in his home town of Morecambe, in northwest England.

鈥淭his is not personal, it鈥檚 strictly business for both fighters.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of stuff on the line but I don鈥檛 hate him and he doesn鈥檛 hate me. He鈥檚 a good husband, good God-fearing man, so I respect him.鈥�

Fury, 35, stands 2.06 meters (six feet, nine inches) tall 鈥� 15 centimeters taller than his opponent, and he believes that will count in his favor.

鈥淲hen the cruiserweights step up to the big boys, usually they get found wanting... you can beat the average big ones but you can鈥檛 beat the elite big ones because size really matters,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e have weight divisions for a reason and he鈥檚 going to be found wanting when he fights me on May 18.鈥�

Fury, who had a split-decision win over former mixed martial arts champion Francis Ngannou in October, wants to stamp his authority on the heavyweight division.

鈥淚f Tyson Fury can鈥檛 beat Usyk, Tyson鈥檚 no good, end of,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to pull any punches, it is what it is.鈥�

He added: 鈥淭his is my time, my destiny, my era and my generation. Fact.鈥�

Fury鈥檚 promoter Frank Warren said he expected Fury to win in 鈥渆xplosive style,鈥� picking out what he believes to be Usyk鈥檚 Achilles鈥� heel.

鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 like it to the body, that鈥檚 for sure, and for me the biggest exponent of exploiting a boxer鈥檚 weakness is the professor here (Fury) and that鈥檚 what he does.

鈥淚f anybody鈥檚 going to exploit it, it鈥檚 going to be Tyson. He鈥檚 got the mental capacity to do that and keep doing what he has to do.

鈥淚 genuinely believe that Tyson will win this fight in explosive style.鈥�