A colossal heavyweight matchup is coming soon. Just not quite as soon as expected.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed contracts to fight each other for the undisputed strap. The bout will take place May 18 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The bout was originally scheduled for mid-February until Fury cut himself during training, forcing a delay.
Fury is currently a -125 favorite over Usyk (+100).
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk Betting Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson Fury | -125 |
| Oleksandr Usyk | +100 |
Odds as of Mar. 14
Using our odds calculator, Fury's -125 favorite status means a $100 bet on him to win pays out $180. The same bet on Usyk pays out $200. Additionally, if you’re unfamiliar with betting on boxing, we have you covered with an in-depth How to Bet Boxing guide.
How Fury Wins
Well, this is simple. Fury wins by doing what he always does. At 6-foot-9, "The Gypsy King" befuddles Usyk with awkward movements and quick-snap jabs.
Range is king for Fury. His long arms help him pop opponents in the pocket, and if they get too close, he leans on 'em and tires them out.
To beat Usyk, Fury needs to make things dirty. Stick to the game plan and neutralize the Ukrainian's quickness.
How Usyk Wins
Make this an electric pace. Usyk can't get lured into Fury's gameplan. The 36-year-old needs to buzz around the Englishman's long jab and whale on his body.
Fury has good cardio, but I don't think it's controversial to say Usyk has an even deeper gas tank. So, he needs to use all that energy.
Usyk has defeated much larger opponents (two wins over Anthony Joshua), so the blueprint is there. His size limits him, but Usyk can win by racking up points when he can let his hands fly.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk Pick
It's hard to bet against Fury, though his close battle with Francis Ngannou opened everyone's eyes to the Gypsy King's vulnerabilities. Fury seemed especially miffed by Ngannou's movement and explosiveness. Nothing Fury hit Ngannou with seemed to frighten the Cameroonian.
If speed and explosiveness are the name of the game in this Fury vs Usyk match, then I'm backing the Ukrainian to pop some strong shots and avoid damage.
Give me Usyk to win, more specifically by decision.
