Lennox Lewis Warns Usyk to Expect Best Fury in Riyadh

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has cautioned unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to brace himself for the best version of Tyson Fury when they finally meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout, scheduled for May 18, marks the long-awaited undisputed heavyweight title encounter, which has faced several delays.

Usyk and his promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, have been vocal about their frustrations with the delays, with Krassyuk even suggesting that Fury should be stripped of his world title if he withdrew from the fight again.

Lewis, speaking to talkSPORT, acknowledged the challenge Fury poses, describing him as elusive and adept at switching stances. He highlighted Fury's imposing height of 6ft 9ins, noting that it presents a formidable challenge for any opponent.

“This is the biggest fight of both of their careers," Lewis emphasized, noting that Fury is in peak physical condition, shedding any excess weight. Lewis attributed Fury's recent wake-up call to his lackluster performance against Ngannou last October, where he was dropped heavily by the boxing debutant in the third round.

“That was just basically a wake-up call for him [Fury],” Lewis remarked. “It was a wake-up call to say, ‘Hey, get in shape. This guy hasn’t had any fights, and you let him real close to you.’"

Lewis concluded by commending Fury for his renewed focus and dedication, evident in his current physical shape and mindset leading up to the bout.