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Boxing promoter Bob Arum has admitted he is ‘very troubled’ by the way Tyson Fury performed against Francis Ngannou as his bout with Oleksandr Usyk creeps closer.
Fury and Usyk will finally lock horns on May 18 after several delays to their fight so far.
And the Gypsy King certainly has a point to prove after struggling during his narrow win over Ngannou back in October.
The 35-year-old was knocked down by his opponent and, though he eventually won via split decision, has continued to be criticised in the time since.
Boxing news: Tyson Fury is under pressure to bounce back from his poor showing against Francis Ngannou when he fights Oleksandr Usyk
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Arum, speaking to BoxNation, has admitted he previously thought of Fury as the favourite to beat Usyk.
But he’s admitted he’s now ‘very troubled’ by the Briton’s poor showing against Ngannou – which means he’s unsure how his next contest will pan out.
“Fury and Usyk, I believe, will be a great fight,” he said.
“It’s certainly a historic fight.
“I always felt that Fury was a big, big favorite because of his size and his boxing ability would be too much for Usyk.
“I’m very troubled with the way Tyson Fury looked in his last fight in Riyadh against Ngannou.
“I was there. I just thought he looked dreadful.
“Now, there are two explanations One, he really didn’t train hard for that fight.
“Two, when we all put on years, we don’t function as well as we did when we were younger physically.
“So is that what we’re seeing based on the Ngannou fight or did he not take it that seriously and wasn’t prepared? That’s what we’ll find out on May 18th.”
Arum did say, however, that he’d still back Fury is the boxing star is able to show he’s not a faded force.
“Yeah, if Tyson is on his A-game,” he continued.
“If it’s the Tyson that fought Wilder the last two times, and fought Dillian Whyte, there’s no way that Usyk or any heavyweight can beat him.
“But that’s a really big assumption. Does he have it left? That we’ll see on May 18th.”
Fury did seem to take Ngannou lightly when they fought last year.,
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Boxing news: Bob Arum has admitted he’s ‘very troubled’ by Tyson Fury ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight
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But the Gypsy King is taking his showdown with Usyk seriously and won’t let lightning strike twice.
Fury has been slimming down and looks in great shape, certainly far leaner than he was back in October.
When quizzed on his fitness last month, the 35-year-old insisted he was ready to battle Usyk.
“[I’m] Very fit. I have got nine weeks to go so you can ask me in nine weeks if I am fit and ready,” he said.
“I have just started camp, literally a few days ago so yeah I will be fit and ready by the time the fight comes, for sure.”
Boxing news: Tyson Fury will be out to silence his critics when he goes up against Oleksandr Usyk on May 18
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Fury has won 34 of his 35 career fights so far, only drawing with Deontay Wilder back in 2018.
Usyk, meanwhile, has won all 21 of his bouts – with 14 of those victories coming via knockout.
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