Gvozdyk on the Favorite in the Fury vs. Usyk Fight

In an interview with vRINGe, former world light heavyweight champion (up to 79.4 kg) Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) shared his views on the super heavyweight (over 90.7 kg) title fight for the absolute championship between WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and the holder of the WBO, WBA, IBO, and IBF titles, Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs).

"Here's what I'll say. As soon as Usyk moved up to heavyweight, and around the same time Fury defeated Wilder, it seemed to me that it would be very difficult for Sasha. Even more so, I couldn't see how he could beat Fury at all. But now, I'm slightly more inclined towards Usyk's favor, about 60/40. Because I know how he works. And because I see that, at the same time, something's not quite right with Fury.

"Sasha's mind games worked. I think Usyk really is in Fury's head. That's the first point. The second point is that Fury had a vague fight a long time ago against the much smaller Cunningham. What if Fury, who defeated the fearsome and huge puncher Wilder twice, has the skill to effectively counter such opponents - big, strong, and hitting? What if his 'Achilles' heel' is actually quick, agile, and smaller boxers like Sasha Usyk?

So, Usyk is my favorite. But at the same time, I wouldn't write off Fury. It's a dangerous fight. Anything could happen," said Gvozdyk.

The fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is set for May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Oleksandr Gvozdyk will fight American David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) for the WBC 'interim' light heavyweight title this summer.