‘A little bit concerned’ - Lennox Lewis worried by slimmed-down Tyson Fury ahead of Oleksandr Usyk undisputed clash
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Updated 17/05/2024 at 17:33 GMT
Tyson Fury's last appearance in the ring, in October 2023 against Francis Ngannou, saw the WBC champion accused of not taking the fight seriously. Former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis was worried that his smaller frame could give him difficulty if he is struck on the chin. Watch the 'Ring of Fire' card, live on TNT Sports Box Office for £24.99, with coverage starting from 15:00 BST.
British boxer Tyson Fury trains in Riyadh on May 15, 2024 ahead of his heavyweight world title figh against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk on May 18. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is concerned that Tyson Fury’s slimmed-down physique could leave his chin vulnerable.
WBC champion Fury is noticeably slimmer than he was compared to recent fights, including when he underperformed in his split-decision win against Francis Ngannou last October.
At the time, he had been criticised for appearing not to take the challenge of the former UFC heavyweight champion seriously, but now there are questions over how his latest approach will affect him.
This Saturday, Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk - the unified IBF, WBA and WBO champion - live on TNT Sports Box Office.
Fury, has a six-inch height advantage over the Ukrainian fighter, and the winner of that bout will be the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, and Lewis, the former undisputed champion who landed three belts in 1999, is concerned.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Lewis said he thought heavyweights needed big legs to withstand any fierce blows to the chin.
“I think he's better when he’s heavier,” he said. “I would love to see him at this pace, I think he’s a lot quicker without the weight, but I’ve always seen him box heavier.
“So, when I see him without the weight, it makes me a little bit concerned.
“When heavyweights box, and they’ve got big legs, when they get hit on the chin, the legs hold them up. So for Tyson Fury, the fact he doesn’t have those legs anymore, I’m worried that he’ll get hit on the chin and it may affect his legs.”
Fury has been dropped relatively recently in his career. He was almost out for the count against Deontay Wilder as he was dropped twice in their first fight. He also was knocked to the canvas by Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
How to watch Fury v Usyk in the UK
Fury v Usyk on TNT Sports Box Office costs £24.99 in the UK and can be watched on discovery+, EE TV, Virgin Media TV and Prime Video.
You do not need to be a TNT Sports subscriber to buy this event.
discovery+ - TNT Sports Box Office events are now available to purchase and watch in the discovery+ app – on smart TV’s, computer or mobile device, viewers wanting to watch the fight should visit https://www.discoveryplus.com/gb/ppv-purchases and follow instructions to subscribe and then purchase the event.
Virgin Media TV - Customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View events rail.
EE TV - Customers can purchase the event via their STB on channel 494.
Prime Video - This TNT Sports Box Office event will now be available to buy and watch on Prime Video in the UK. Customers do not need to have any channel or Prime subscription to access. You can find live and upcoming PPV events in the “Live and upcoming events” row on the Prime Video homepage and sports page, or by searching for a specific event title.
What time will Fury v Usyk start and when are ring walks?
Fury and Usyk will meet in Riyadh on Saturday, May 18.
The live coverage of the event will start at 14:30 UK time on TNT Sports Box Office with a stacked undercard ahead of the headline fight.
The ring walk for Fury v Usyk is expected to be around 23:00 UK time.
Live coverage details
TNT Sports Box Office coverage will be presented by Laura Woods alongside Carl Frampton, David Haye and Steve Bunce with commentary from Darren Fletcher and Richie Woodall.
Three early bouts will also be broadcast, available for anyone to watch, on TNT Sports 3 and TNT Sports Box Office.
The Weigh In will also be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and YouTube on Friday, May 17 at 18:45 UK time, and will feature insight from the last undisputed heavyweight world champion, Lennox Lewis.
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TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
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