Ring of Fire Preview: Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk Fight Picks and Betting Predictions (Heavyweight, May 18)
Fury, the WBC champion, meets Usyk, the IBF, WBA, WBO, and Ring Magazine champion, in this ultimate heavyweight showdown. The two fighters will trade punches for the biggest prize in heavyweight boxing in front of a jam-packed Kingdom Arena crowd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We look to the Fury vs Usyk odds to find out who is going to win and how you can profit from it.
Usyk vs Fury: Event Details and Preview
On May 18th, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh will witness a historic clash. After years of divided titles, the heavyweight division will finally crown its undisputed champion when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk collide. This is a fight for the ages – a heavyweight unification bout for the first time in almost a quarter of a century.
Other than a staggering purse, the biggest title in heavyweight boxing is on the line. Who will be crowned the WBA/WBO/WBC/IBF king in the 26,000-seater venue? Go through our detailed Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk prediction and betting preview article to understand how this fight might go down.
🥊 Weight Class/Division: | WBA/WBO/WBC/IBF Heavyweight Title (12 rounds) |
🏟️ Venue: | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
🗓️ Date: | 18 May 2024 |
⏰ Time: | From 2:00 PM EST, Saturday |
Latest Fury vs Usyk Odds
Before we dive into our Fury vs Usyk betting tips, let’s see what bookies have to say about this clash. Here are the latest betting odds for boxing as the Cat prepares to take on the Gypsy King:
The upcoming heavyweight clash between Fury and Usyk promises to be a nail-biter, reflected in the narrow betting margins. While Fury edges out Usyk as a slight favorite, the Fury vs Usyk odds suggest a tightly contested fight. The Brit leads narrowly at 2.00 (1/1), while his Ukrainian opponent is breathing down his neck on 2.10 (11/10). Even the possibility of a draw remains significant, with bookmakers offering a tempting 17.00 (16/1) payout for that outcome.
Tyson Fury Recent Boxing Form
Coming off a single fight in 2023, Fury’s last outing saw him secure a hard-fought victory over the powerful Francis Ngannou. He was, however, knocked down in that fight, and it went to the judges – something few saw coming. Throughout his undefeated 35-bout career, only Deontay Wilder has managed to snatch a draw from the reigning WBC champion.
Fury Advantages Over Usyk
Fury boasts a significant size and reach advantage. He stands several inches taller than Usyk and has a much longer reach. The English fighter also has incredible durability, having never been knocked out in his professional career. So, he could make it a long night inside the ring and tire Usyk out.
Oleksandr Usyk Recent Boxing Form
Last year, Usyk made a statement with a dominant knockout victory over the promising Daniel Dubois. Prior to that, he burst onto the heavyweight boxing scene with dual point wins over Anthony Joshua in 2021/2022. He’ll be bringing an undefeated record of 21 wins into the ring on Friday night.
Usyk Advantages Over Fury
His footwork is some of the best in the heavyweight division. This will allow Usyk to maneuver around the ring with incredible agility and avoid Fury’s powerful punches. His sharp counter-punching ability could exploit any openings in Fury’s defense and exhaust even athletes like Joshua or Dubois.
Best Usyk vs Fury Predictions
Now, let’s get to the part you have all been waiting for: our Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk prediction. The fighters will be giving it their all to get their hands on the ultimate heavyweight crown. But only one will prevail at the Kingdom Arena. Who will that be? We will give our verdict on that, seasoned with some juicy Fury vs Osyk betting tips.
Tyson Fury to Win @ 2.00 (1/1)
1 (25%)
(75%) 3
Most punters have been backing Tyson Fury to win on Friday night. Legendary fighters like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have thrown their weight behind Fury as well, citing his size and power as key advantages. We are also convinced that the Gypsy King is capable of claiming the throne.
You can sense a “but” coming, however, don’t you? It’s natural to feel a bit skeptical about Fury’s prospects against the dynamic Usyk after watching him struggle against Francis Ngannou. Fury managed to grind out a far-from-convincing win against Ngannou in his last outing in October 2023, but he seems better prepared this time.
While Fury’s camp has showcased him in peak physical condition, pure conditioning can only go so far. The true test will be whether the WBC champion can recapture his lightning reflexes and razor-sharp timing. These will be crucial against Usyk’s relentless movement and pinpoint accuracy. We, however, believe that he will bring his A-game to the ring against the Ukrainian.
So, we will go with the safest Fury vs Osyk odds by predicting a win for Fury. Don’t worry, gamblers! We will turn up the risk factor in our next two Fury vs Usyk betting tips.
Tyson Fury to Win in Round Nine @ 29.00 (28/1)
1 (25%)
(75%) 3
Fury’s exceptional conditioning allows him to maintain a high pace even in later rounds. This could tire Usyk out, especially if he can’t land clean shots early. Additionally, Fury’s reach advantage might become more pronounced as the fight progresses, allowing him to control the distance and land powerful counterpunches as Usyk tires.
Bookies in Saudi Arabia are offering excellent Fury vs Usyk odds for a round nine win in favor of the Brit. Fury has a knack for late finishes, securing three of his last four victories in the championship rounds (10th or 11th). While we do expect the fight to drag late, we believe the battle will be decided in round nine, and it will be the Mancunian fighter who will have the last laugh.
Tyson Fury to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 4.50 (7/2)
3 (75%)
(25%) 1
Don’t underestimate Fury’s ability to end this fight with a single blow. While Usyk boasts impressive footwork and technical brilliance, Fury possesses a heavyweight’s power with a staggering 71 percent knockout rate throughout his career. This finishing instinct is a constant threat hanging over Usyk, reminding him that one misplaced move could be his undoing.
After studying the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk betting odds, we are convinced that backing a Fury win via KO/TKO/disqualification is a reasonable move.
Recommended Fury vs Usyk Betting Tips
Old and new sports betting websites are backing Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed king of heavyweight boxing since Lennox Lewis. We also strongly believe in his credentials, and since rooting for a Fury win offers decent returns, it will be one of our highlighted Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk tips. To make things more interesting, you can also back a KO/TKO/disqualification win for the 35-year-old.