Tyson Fury's promoter, Bob Arum, has showered praise on Oleksandr Usyk while acknowledging that Fury "wasn't prepared" for his fight against Francis Ngannou.
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The Upset That Almost Happened
In October, Ngannou temporarily paused his MMA career to enter the boxing ring against Fury. Despite knocking Fury down in the third round, the former UFC champion controversially lost the match on points.
Fury's Respect vs. Arum's Hint
Fury, 35, claimed that he respected Ngannou during their training camp. However, Arum, who has been working with Fury since 2019, hinted that Fury's preparation may not have been up to par.
Arum's Insight
In an interview with BoxingScene, Arum stated, "Let's be honest... You watch Fury's last fight with Ngannou, either he really wasn't prepared for that fight, or he's lost a step. When fighters get up in age, that happens. I really believe it's the former - that Fury didn't prepare as well as he should have [against Ngannou], who, by the way, has the tools to become a force in the heavyweight division."
Postponed Title Bout
Fury's highly anticipated undisputed title fight against Oleksandr Usyk was postponed from December to February 17 due to his clash with Ngannou. This bout will be the first in heavyweight history where all four world titles are on the line.
Arum's Praise for Usyk
Arum expressed his admiration for Usyk, 36, stating, "I really believe [Fury vs Usyk] is going to be a fascinating fight. Usyk is a very smart fighter. He prepares extremely well. He's fearless. That will be a very big test for Fury. Fury knows that. He's been training assiduously for the fight."
Did you miss our previous article...
https://secondsaway.co.uk/mixed-martial-arts/floyd-mayweather-is-called-out-by-legendary-kickboxing-star-after-cancelled-fight
