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Usyk Fury 11 Minute Staredown

By Scoop Malinowski

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury engaged in an 11 minute staredown after yesterday’s press conference  for their World Heavyweight Championship fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Staredowns before fights are always sensational events and this one was as fascinating as any we have ever witnessed in boxing.

The champion Usyk holds the upper hand and mental edges on challenger Fury because he won the first fight by decision and near 9th round knockout – and also because he knows the reluctant dodger Fury had to be forced into that fight by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh because Fury wanted easy fights vs. guaranteed patsies like Wilder, Chisora, etc.

So yesterday as the two titans met face to face, it was an opportunity for Fury to gain lost confidence and send Usyk a psychological message. The staredown was tranquil for the first nine minutes as Usyk and Fury locked eyes on each other.

My theory is Fury was looking for something in Usyk’s eyes, or windows to his soul, to rebuild his confidence that he really can beat the Ukrainian wizard… a glimmer of doubt, insecurity, a sudden eye expression of weakness. Fury feigned a macho, brave, and disdainful mask as he looked down on Usyk who is a few inches shorter. Of course, it’s all just another bluff by Fury who is desperate because this is his last chance to save his career. Another loss to Usyk will end the 36 year old Fury as an elite heavyweight.

Obviously Fury’s desperate search found no vulnerability in Usyk’s eyes. So Fury began to verbally taunt Usyk, calling him names and ugly and that sort of immature, classless behavior for which he is known. It’s the true colors of Fury who at his worst looks like a freak show circus clown high as a kite on drugs. On the other hand, Usyk is the ultimate ambassador for boxing, always respectful and classy, funny, with confidence that is admirable and not in the least bit offensive. Usyk is the classical hero, Fury is the irrational, disturbed, tortured villain.

This fight reminds of the Lennox Lewis, hero,  vs Mike Tyson, villain, grudge match of 2002. Lewis prevailed comfortably of course and so too shall Usyk again on Saturday night, even despite any kind of corruption from the boxing establishment, which we all know is motivated to see Fury win to force the contracted third fight trilogy rubber match in 2025.

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(Photo by Ernesto Ruscio.)

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