- Oleksandr Uysk and Tyson Fury will go head-to-head this weekend to determine the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion.
- Both Usyk and Fury are undefeated fighters.
- Usyk is the slight betting underdog at +100, and Fury is the slight -110 betting favorite.
For the first time since 1999, a unified heavyweight boxing champion will be crowned. IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk faces the reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in a unification match this Saturday inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
THE ONE THE WORLD WAITED FOR.
WELCOME TO FURY-USYK FIGHT WEEK 👑4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/2J5GfaNYfO
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 13, 2024
Usyk and Fury are both undefeated world champions, but the latter is tagged as the slight betting favorite in the boxing odds at -110. Meanwhile, the former will be the slight betting underdog with +100 odds.
Oleksandr Uysk Recent Fight Results
Usyk was a former Olympic medalist before he turned professional in 2013. In just five years, he unified the cruiserweight world title by collecting all four belts. After that, he finally moved up to the heavyweight division.
In September 2021, Usyk unanimously beat Anthony Joshua to capture the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO heavyweight world titles. Then, he successfully defended them against Joshua in their rematch in August 2022. His most recent world title defense was against Daniel Dubois in August of last year via ninth-round knockout.
Tyson Fury Recent Fight Results
Fury dominated the U.K. boxing scene during the start of his pro career and secured multiple minor titles. His career breakthrough happened in November 2015 when he scored a gigantic upset of Wladimir Klitschko to win the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO heavyweight championships.
But after that career-defining win, he went on a three-year sabbatical. He won the WBC heavyweight title against Deontay Wilder in October 2021 and fended off the challenges from Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora to retain the belt. His most recent triumph was against Francis Ngannou when he eked out a split-decision win in October.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury: Tale of the Tape
| Oleksandr Usyk | Tyson Fury | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 37 | 35 |
| Height | 6’3” | 6’9” |
| Reach | 78 inches | 85 inches |
| Record | 21-0 | 34-0-1 |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| TKO/KO Percentage | 67% | 71% |
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury: Fight Analysis
The tale of the tape for this upcoming heavyweight unification bout will favor Fury because he’s 6 inches taller and has 7 inches longer of reach compared to Usyk. Additionally, the British star is two years younger than the Ukrainian superstar and has a higher finish rate.
Stylistically, these fighters couldn’t be more different. Usyk, a master of relentless work rate, seeks to overwhelm his opponents with sheer volume. On the other hand, Fury possesses a one-punch knockout power that, when unleashed, can send his opponents into the shadow realm.
Keys to victories for Usyk include controlling the fight’s pace, maximizing his speed, and making Fury miss his big shots. This way, he can wear down “The Gypsy King” and gas him out to neutralize the threat of his power.
Fury must not yield to Usyk’s pressure and continue marching forward, cutting off his space before throwing his signature power punches. Once successful, he would disrupt the Ukrainian superstar’s rhythm and give him a higher chance of landing a clean shot.
Furthermore, Fury should maximize his height and reach edge against Usyk by throwing more jabs. Employing this approach would not only frustrate Usyk but also tally his points on the judges’ scorecards.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury: Date and Start Time
May 18, 12 p.m. E.T.
May 18, 9 a.m. P.T.
May 18, 11 a.m. C.T.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury: Official Prediction
Official Prediction: Unanimous decision win for Tyson Fury.
Place a Parlay Bet at BetMGM
BetMGM is the King of Sportsbook and the King of Parlays!
Parlays a unique opportunity to leverage your sports knowledge into more excitement and bigger potential payouts. You can build a parlay bet with hundreds of thousands of combinations each year. From MLB run lines or NFL odds to NHL puck lines or NBA spreads, there are opportunities for everyone.
Visit the sportsbook for updated odds, the best sportsbook promos — including BetMGM’s welcome offer — and more.
