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Wladimir Klitschko backs Oleksandr Usyk to defeat Tyson Fury in this Saturday’s live rematch. Sky Sports Box Office.
Boxing legend Klitschko has been linked with an unexpected return to the sport to chase a world heavyweight title at the record age of 48.
It was Fury who defeated the Ukrainian star in 2015 when he first became unified heavyweight champion.
A rematch the following year never materialized. But while Klitschko might consider fighting Fury for a world championship, he would never box his compatriot Usyk.
Klitschko also said sky sports: “Oleksandr Usyk will keep me retired.
“It’s not going to happen well. I’m going to stay retired. He’s going to keep me retired.”
Klitschko has not boxed since his 2017 loss to Anthony Joshua. But despite being one of Ukraine’s most prominent international defenders, he insists he has remained in good condition.
“I remember Oleksandr called me at the end of March this year, on my birthday, and said: ‘Champion, I wish you a happy birthday and I wish that your dream of becoming the oldest champion in the world comes true.’
“I said, ‘Oleksandr, what are you talking about? Your fight is coming up, you’re in preparation, keep me back.’
“So he promised: ‘I’m going to do it, I’m going to keep it (the championship), but I wish that for you.'”
Klitschko believes Usyk will be able to retain the WBC, WBO and WBA world titles he holds when he fights Fury this weekend.
“Oleksandr is going to repeat history,” Klitschko insisted. “It’s going to be déjà vu. So repetition. That’s really what’s happening. I was here for the first fight. It just feels the same, looks the same and is the same.
“It’s about strategy. It’s about technique.”
Klitschko has full admiration for Usyk and has a long relationship with his Ukrainian compatriot.
“I remember when Oleksandr won the Klitschko tournament as a teenager, this amateur tournament he fought in was named after me and he became champion. Actually, he admired me. So now I will admire him. How? How wonderful he is life,” Klitschko said.
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Oleksandr Usyk was accompanied by a live performance during his public training for his rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this time he also proves that he is the baddest man on the planet, Oleksandr Usyk.”
‘Usyk is unbreakable!’
Usyk and Fury fight for the second time at Saturday’s Riyadh season event at the Kingdom Arena.
By winning a split decision over Fury in May, Usyk became the undisputed world heavyweight champion, making him an undisputed two-weight ruler and the first heavyweight to obtain that status since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
However, Fury is determined to avenge his first professional loss and beat Usyk. At Thursday’s press conference they faced each other for the first time in fight week and neither man allowed himself to even blink, much less move away from the intense stare.
It lasted more than 11 minutes until they finally let themselves go.
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Tyson Fury broke the icy atmosphere after his confrontation with Oleksandr Usyk by joining a traditional Saudi dance.
“It went all the way,” said promoter Alex Krassyuk. sky sports after that confrontation.
However, he does not believe that the fight between Usyk and Fury will achieve it. He advises Usyk to finish early.
“I think he’ll finish within the distance,” Krassyuk said. “I hope he (Fury) is better prepared, much better prepared for this.
“So conditioning is not a problem in this fight. The stamina is there. Technically, well, Usyk is better but Tyson is very good. The size, of course, the advantage is on Tyson’s side, but what does it give you victory?”
At that, Krassyuk pointed to his head and his heart.
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Tyson Fury broke the icy atmosphere after his confrontation with Oleksandr Usyk by joining a traditional Saudi dance.
He then added: “You can’t break Oleksandr Usyk. He will never walk away when it comes to the fight.
“For me it was like a full round of 12,” the promoter said, describing the stare-down at the press conference.
“Mentally this is something that helps you achieve victory. Mental strength. Usyk has mental strength. It doesn’t matter if he is in bad or good condition, he is finding a way to win. Inventing a way to win.
“That’s why Tyson is nervous.”
The big heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will air live on Saturday, December 21 on Sky Sports Box Office. Pre-order Usyk vs. Fury 2 now!
