Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury via split-decision to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk and Fury collided in Saudi Arabia to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 when Lennox Lewis achieved the feat when he defeated Evander Holyfield in their rematch.
Former super-middleweight world champion, Carl Froch believes the atmosphere played its part in Fury’s defeat and that if it had been at Wembley stadium then he would have ‘upped his game’.
MORE HERE: 🚨 Former world champion urges Oleksandr Usyk to avoid Tyson Fury rematch and retire
Speaking to Lord Ping he said: “A fight for the heavyweight undisputed titles in Saudi, come on, it felt flat didn’t it? The whole thing was flat, a fight of that magnitude warranted an atmosphere. I go to a boxing match for the atmosphere, the noise, the passionate crowd and the euphoria of being at a live event.
“With a better atmosphere, maybe Tyson would have started a bit quicker. And maybe he would have been lifted when he had success in rounds five and six. If that fight was at Wembley stadium, would he have upped his game when he had Usyk hurt with that uppercut? I think so, the Wembley crowd would have lifted him. In the last three rounds there was no noise.
“I think Fury could have beaten Usyk if the fight was at Wembley. If that fight was at Wembley Stadium we would have gotten more out of Fury, it would have lifted him to the next level in a close fight.
“When I fought Kessler I went for the finish in the later rounds, that was because of the crowd. When I battered Lucian Bute in Nottingham, that was the crowd helping because they were going crazy. There’s a strong argument that if that fight was at Wembley Stadium Fury would have beaten Usyk because of the crowd [being] behind him.”
NEW ANGLE! 🎥
How did Tyson Fury survive round nine of #FuryUsyk? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9lcpw7rDcb
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 20, 2024
It looks like ‘The Gypsy King’ will get his chance at revenge as his promoter Frank Warren has confirmed he has activated the rematch clause for another clash with the Ukrainian.
On the other hand, if the fight had been in Ukraine it would have lifted Usyk.
It’s ‘Greedy Belly’ Fury who’s been most up the backsides of the Saudis because of their big money, and John Fury has even said his son won’t ever fight in the U.K. again.
At the end of the day, in a neutral venue Fury lost to a man older than him, two and a half stone lighter and six inch shorter.
Fury said if he couldn’t beat Usyk it would mean he wasn’t really any good.
Amen.