Tyson Fury: “The Smartest Opponent? Usyk”

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury opened up about the most impressive opponents he’s encountered in the ring, offering candid takes on power, intelligence, movement, and durability.

– Best puncher?

– The best puncher I’ve ever faced — [Deontay] Wilder.

– Smartest opponent?

– Usyk.

– Best movement?

– Usyk.

– Best chin?

– Probably Usyk. I landed a lot of good shots on him, he was hurt multiple times in those fights, but he managed to keep going. I always say Deontay Wilder has a very good chin too, but I think he’s in a later stage of his career. I don’t know if that’s because of age or because he’s past his prime. [Dereck] Chisora also has a solid chin.

– Greatest heavyweight of all time?

– I don’t know. I don’t think you can say things like that. It’s a pointless conversation, because if you buy a race car from 1970 and race it against a modern one, the new car wins. But that doesn’t mean it’s better — every era has its flaws.

You can only fight who’s around in your own era, and beat those who are in your era. That’s it. You can’t go back in time to face someone from the past. So I don’t think it’s a relevant question.