Tyson Fury tipped to use cut as advantage for Oleksandr Usyk fight with strategy set to change

Tyson Fury tipped to use cut as advantage for Oleksandr Usyk fight with strategy set to change

WATCH NOW: Tyson Fury's black eye on show after delaying Olekandr Usyk fight

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 09/02/2024

- 12:09

Fury was forced to delay the fight after a freak accident in sparring

Zhilei Zhang claims Tyson Fury can use his cut as an advantage in his mega undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

Zhang believes the Gyspy King can work out a strategy to combat his opponent if the Ukrainian specifically targets his injury.


Fury and Usyk were set to put their belts and unbeaten professional records on the line on February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

However, the fight was postponed last week after it was announced that Fury had suffered a cut above his right eye in training.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Zhilei Zhang believes Tyson Fury can use his cut as an advantage against Oleksandr Usyk

Queensbury Promotions/Getty

Many boxing figures raised doubts over whether the fight would be rearranged but a new date of May 18 was quickly organised.

Fury has just over three months to fully recover from the cut, which required stitches.

The injury is in the same area as the deep cut he sustained during his win over Otto Wallin in 2019.

Zhang says each fighter recovers differently from such an injury but believes Fury has been given enough time for it to heal.

The Chinese heavyweight claims Fury needs to reconsider his sparring partners after the incident with Croatian fighter Agron Smakici.

Zhang says Usyk will likely target Fury's eye during the fight in an attempt to re-open the cut.

However, the 40-year-old believes Fury can take advantage of that approach, using Usyk's 'aggression towards the eye against him'.

Zhang told Gambling.com: "It’s hard to say. Every fighter is different with how long cuts take to heal. It really depends on the person.

"But I do think Tyson Fury has enough time to heal and find sparring.

"If I were him, I would be very careful to find trustworthy and understanding sparring partners.

"The cut could factor into the fight, especially if it’s an older cut that has opened. It’s possible it could open again.

"Oleksandr Usyk could target the eye, but he would also have to expect that Tyson Fury would have a strategy to protect the eye or have a strategy to use Usyk’s aggression towards the eye against him. The cut does present an interesting element."

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will enter the ring on May 18 in Saudi Arabia

Getty

Zhang will next step into the ring on March 8 on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's bout against Francis Ngannou.

He will fight Joseph Parker after the New Zealander upset Deontay Wilder at the 'Day of Reckoning' in December.

Zhang says he is looking forward to the fight but refused to predict which way he thinks it will go.

He added: "Camp has been going very well for me. I feel strong, and I’m working hard with my trainer, Shaun George, on a game plan.

Tyson Fury cut

Tyson Fury sustained a cut above his eye during sparring

Queensbury Promotions

"I am confident in a victory, but I’ll keep specific predictions to myself for now, but I believe I am going to put on a show alongside Joseph Parker.

"I’m very excited to fight in Saudi Arabia. His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, has a big vision and he is a man who is executing that vision for the benefit of boxing fans worldwide."

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