Legendary Boxing coach praises ‘Mr Winner’ Oleksandr Usyk’s superhuman ability to shutdown Tyson Fury
Boxing legend Teddy Atlas lauds Oleksandr Usyk for winning again at DAZN PPV rematch against Tyson Fury.
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Teddy Atlas gives his thoughts on Oleksandr Usyk winning vs. Tyson Fury (Source: X)
Oleksandr Usyk cemented himself as the greatest heavyweight right now with a nod over Tyson Fury earlier today, on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV). Usyk is now undeniable with what he has achieved at cruiserweight and heavyweight limits. Consequently, sweet science legend Teddy Atlas is all here for it.
As usual, Champ Oleksandr Usyk started to ramp up the pressure in the later frames. His left hand started to land a good clip against a hefty Tyson Fury. Middle through the late rounds, he landed almost all and pushed the rival intensely. To Fury’s credit, Teddy Atlas did mention how the Brit made some needed changes and stood like a goliath tumbling between his stances. But he also mentioned how champ-mentality Usyk just fought that much better.
He…he kind of fought the game plan that I kind of suggested that he should instead of just moving around…letting Usyk boil him down with the pressure, he set himself he used the wingspan and Fury to his credit he did a much better job. But Usyk does what he does, you know?…He finds a way…He lost the fifth round, uh…it was a big round, I turned to my son and said ‘Watch, watch Mr Winner is going to come right out and show what a winner does’…
Teddy Atlas to Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans)
Usyk (now 23-0, 14 KO) logged a UD (116-112) on all three judges’ scorecards. Fury came into the DAZN-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) Riyadh main event a slight underdog. However, the former WBC lineal champ posed his set of challenges and won big in a few rounds. But for his size, the Ukrainian proved his pound-for-pound worth skill, footwork, and ring IQ.
Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed title encore saw him go for technical up-and-down movement/domination even with a shorter reach. While Fury would answer back and keep squatting his shots in range, Usyk was just that much better and didn’t miss much. The signature uppercut, that hurt the champion first time around also didn’t land. Teddy Atlas, once accomplice to great names like Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer and featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan, can’t help but laud the outcome.
Supersized at undersize: Is shorter target the new best base for heavyweight boxing?
The heavyweights of the modern 4-belt era a gargantuan bunch with the humongous Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua leading the charge. There have been giants like Russian Nikolai Valuev (non championship weight 348¼ pounds). Andy Ruiz Jr., Vitali Klitschko and others have been too big for the sight too.
Oleksandr Usyk is in no way tiny; but he kind of is when a 6’9″ Fury dwarfs him early on. The lifelong cruiserweight boxer also found speed and acute shots against 6’6″ KO artist Joshua who took on Carlos Takam at a muscle-bound 254 pounds. AJ also lost to a more sensical and sureshot 6.5″ Daniel Dubois.
‘The Cat’ isn’t the only such case. 5’7″ Tommy Burns left his mark on international boxing taking on bigger guys in pure cinematic fashion. Tyson, 20, himself was five-and-ten (not so huge per boxing HW standard) when the then 27-0 (25 KOs) boxer became the youngest champ. The all-powerful “Iron” has always been a quicker but leaner target to get back at, who’d hit side-to-side kill shots!
From him, to Jersey Joe Walcott, to Joe Frazier, now Oleksandr Usyk; it’s the smaller but not out for the count guys that take the cake. Smaller but stouter might just be the best base for heavyweight boxing domination.
Related: Top 10 boxers of the 21st century
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