Evander Holyfield tells Tyson Fury he should ‘duck’ Oleksandr Usyk and makes prediction for Dillian Whyte fight
EVANDER HOLYFIELD has told Tyson Fury he should ‘duck’ Oleksandr Usyk after beating Dillian Whyte.
The WBC heavyweight champion will defend his titles against the Body Snatcher at Wembley Stadium on April 23.
That is a fight that the former world title holder Holyfield expects Fury to win.
The Brit has announced that he plans to retire after his battle under the arch, but many believe he could still go after unifying the division against fellow champ Usyk, whose rematch with Anthony Joshua is now in doubt after Russia invaded Ukraine.
However, Holyfield thinks Fury should avoid battling the smaller Usyk.
Speaking exclusively to Sun Sport, Real Deal explained: “Well, this is what I know: Most little guys are always better than the big guys. A lot quicker and you’re very good with moving.
“What made me the fighter that I was is I was a lot smaller than most, so it was very easy for me to hit them and I was a lot quicker.
“I can see Usyk giving him problems. So, I think the smart thing to do is eliminate this ‘I’m bigger than him so this and the other’ because everybody knows that small guys fight better, more skillful and faster than big guys.
“Big guy’s got the power! If they catch you they can hurt you! But can Tyson Fury hurt him?
“And the thing is Tyson Fury is an OK puncher but he’s not a big puncher, and so him not being a big puncher he’s not going to be quicker than Usyk anyway.”
Holyfield continued: “The guy with faster hands will throw more punches.
“That is a guy to duck by saying ‘Oh I’m a bigger guy I’m not going to fight him.’
“You’re the biggest guy and you fight a guy that is quicker but smaller, but most small guys are a lot better fighters too than big guys.”
When pressed for a prediction for Fury’s showdown with Whyte, Holyfield had no doubts that it will be the unbeaten Gypsy King that gets his hand raised.
He said: “It should be a very entertaining fight. Both really want to fight, I think – Dillian Whyte really wants to fight. I think it’s going to be a great fight.
“I think Dillian’s got the energy to give him problems, but I think Tyson Fury is clever. He is just a clever fighter and I don’t think Whyte can beat him.
“What Whyte does have is he’s similar age, and anytime people take chances you can’t really rule your chance of winning.
“Even though Tyson Fury is a clever boxer and proved to do the right things, all the years that I fought I realised that who is willing to do anything stands a chance. So, that would make this fight different.
“You can say, ‘Tyson Fury is a better boxer’ but when you have a guy that is self-motivated and takes chances then anytime a person takes chances the person has just as great chances to win than who thinks the guy is just going to let them win.”