Tony Bellew, a former boxer and keen boxing historian, has weighed in on a fantasy fight between Tyson Fury and Muhammad Ali. Bellew believes Ali would come out on top in this hypothetical matchup.
Fury, known as 'The Gypsy King,' has long proclaimed himself as the greatest heavyweight of the modern era. He's even gone as far as saying he couldn't be beaten by any man born from his mother. For years, Fury's unbeaten record and victories over notable opponents backed up his claims.
However, Fury's claim to greatness took a hit in May 2023 when he narrowly lost on points to Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed clash. It was Fury's first professional loss and challenged his 'greatest' claim.
Despite this setback, Fury's career has been impressive. He's won fights against Otto Wallin, knocked out Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium, and beaten Derek Chisora three times since 2011. His trilogy with Deontay Wilder resulted in a draw in 2018 and two stoppage wins in 2020 and 2021.
More recently, Fury won against Francis Ngannou in October 2023, although he was put on the canvas by the boxing debutant and former MMA champion.
Fury's admiration for Ali is well-known. He's said, "Muhammad Ali, I used to watch and study and copy what he did." Fury has also compared himself to Ali, stating, "It's difficult to compare because I'm heavy but I think I'm the closest thing we have today, I think I'm very unique, there has never been someone who is 19st 7lbs and can move around and box like he did even though he was only 14 stone something."
Muhammad Ali, known as 'The Greatest,' was an enigma inside and outside the ropes. He was a flashy heavyweight who used speed, footwork, and defence to tire or baffle opponents before striking. Ali was smaller in height and bulk compared to Fury.
When asked about this fantasy matchup, Tony Bellew gave a simple answer in an interview with Instant Casino:
"Muhammad Ali."
Fury will have a chance to solidify his legacy in his upcoming rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A win might cement him as the greatest of his generation, but for many fans, the title of greatest of all time will always belong to Muhammad Ali.
