Zhilei on Usyk-Fury Battle: "The Cut Could Affect the Outcome"

Interim WBO heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KO) believes that Tyson Fury's (34-0-1, 24 KO) cut could impact the rescheduled fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship against Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KO). The Chinese boxer urged Fury to be cautious in finding sparring partners.

"It's hard to say how the cut will affect the fight. Every fighter heals from wounds differently. It really depends on the individual. But I think Tyson Fury has enough time to recover and find sparring partners. If I were in his shoes, I would be very careful in finding worthy training partners.

The cut could affect the fight, especially if the old wound reopens. It could open up again. Oleksandr Usyk may target that eye, but he also needs to expect that Tyson Fury will have a strategy to defend his eye or counter Usyk's strategy against him. The cut really presents an interesting element," Zhang told Gambling.com.

The bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk was postponed from February 17th to May 18th due to the injury sustained by the British boxer during sparring. Zhilei Zhang, in his last bout on September 23, 2023, defeated Joe Joyce by knockout in the third round.