Former champion Roy Jones Jr. has shared insights on why Tyson Fury's psychological tactics will not disturb Oleksandr Usyk. The fight is scheduled for Saturday night on DAZN, featuring Tyson Fury ...
Roy Jones Jr., himself a seasoned former boxer, discussed Usyk's challenges regarding size difference. He noted, “It's a very daunting task, but [Usyk] started heavy [as a cruiserweight]. I started at junior middleweight. There's a difference. It’s not impossible for him to do, but Tyson Fury is [bigger] and [6-foot-9],”.
Roy Jones also shared his perspective on Usyk's qualities and recent events that could play in his favor. He said, “I like Usyk because he’s dangerous, he’s creative and he’s never been beaten. It’s to Usyk’s advantage that Tyson Fury didn’t look so good last time out [when he was knocked down by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou].” This previous performance by Fury could give Usyk additional confidence.
Discussing the tactical facets of the match, Jones emphasized the necessity for Usyk to maneuver past Fury's formidable jab. He explained, “Usyk has to get beyond Tyson Fury’s jab because [of] Fury’s [height advantage] and he has a helluva jab. If Usyk can get beyond it, how much damage can he inflict? Because if he can’t get past the jab, he can’t win the fight.”
Finally, addressing whether psychological games would affect Usyk, Jones confidently stated that they would not influence the Ukrainian fighter mainly due to a language barrier. "I don’t think [mind games] work with Usyk because he doesn’t understand none of it," said Jones.
Analyzing this bout reveals essential factors like size difference—Tyson Fury is notably larger and taller compared to Oleksandr Usyk—and skills where Usyk is lauded for being creative and dangerous despite being smaller in stature. Moreover, recent performances suggest psychological and strategic layers are involved in this high-stakes match.
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Roy Jones Jr., an American former professional boxer who held multiple world championships in four weight classes including titles at middleweight and heavyweight levels, is now known for his insightful commentary on boxing strategies.