“Warren: I’d Dissuade Fury from Usyk Fight If I Feared a Loss”

Promoter Frank Warren remains unwavering in his confidence in Tyson Fury despite a shaky performance against Francis Ngannou. The upcoming clash on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Fury defends his WBC title against Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO, WBA, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles, has heightened anticipation.

Originally scheduled for February 17, Fury’s withdrawal due to a training camp cut delayed the highly anticipated bout. The encounter with Ngannou in October raised eyebrows as what seemed like a mismatch turned out to be a competitive affair, with Ngannou even dropping Fury in the third round. Fury secured a narrow split decision win, sparking divided opinions among fans.

Warren acknowledges Fury’s “off night” against Ngannou but staunchly supports him, emphasizing that despite an off night, Fury secured the victory. The promoter underscores his belief in Fury as the best heavyweight and downplays concerns arising from the Ngannou bout.

Highlighting Usyk’s own challenges, Warren points to the Ukrainian’s ninth-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois in August. Usyk, like Fury, faced adversity in that fight, being dropped by Dubois with a body punch, though deemed a low blow. Warren filed a protest, which was rejected, suggesting that Usyk, too, has vulnerabilities.

Warren concludes by emphasizing the need to scrutinize Usyk’s performance against Dubois and speculates on whether Fury will exploit potential weaknesses, particularly to the body. Despite uncertainties, Warren expresses strong faith in Fury, stating he wouldn’t bet against him and affirming his commitment to supporting Fury in the bout.