Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clash in a huge heavweight fight on Saturday – and the boxing world is split on who will win.

The unbeaten heavyweight titans will square off on Saturday, May 18 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for all four major sanctioning body belts in the glamour division.

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There is quite a difference between Fury and Usyk ahead of their undisputed showdown
It will mark the first time in 25 years that the undisputed title has been on the line in boxing’s marquee weight class.

In 1999, Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield for the WBC, WBA and IBF belts, when the WBO strap was not a recognised world title.

Now, WBC champion Fury and WBO, WBA and IBF titlist Usyk duke it out for the ultimate prize in boxing with the whole world watching on.

As is often the case with fights of this magnitude, everyone has their own take on how it will go.

And here, talkSPORT.com has condensed all those opinions into one place as we run down the standout industry picks for Fury vs Usyk.

Who is backing Fury?

Ricky Hatton

“For the training camp itself, Tyson has been on it,”  the former two-weight boxing champion told talkSPORT. 

“He’s not been saying much, he’s been getting his head down, getting on with his training, and to see him when he walked in Saudi this week the shape and conditioning… he is on it. Trust me. I know Tyson pretty good, and I think he is on it.

“ I think Tyson took it lightly against Francis Ngannou, came in a little bit heavy and it is the best kick up the arse he probably could have had.

“That has brought Tyson back down to earth a little bit that Ngannou performance. That is the best thing that happened. That last fight will work in his favour.

“He has got the height, he has got the reach, he has got the speed, he can box southpaw, he can box orthodox, he can mix up, he is brilliant defensively. He is just a bigger version of Usyk.

“I think Tyson might be able to stop him later on. Usyk will have his moments because he is good technician as well, but I would stay on the body. There is a big question mark over whether Usyk is a little bit weak on the body with the Dubois situation and there have been a few fights where he has been hit round the ribs, and not taken it too well.

“If Tyson can put a bit more concentration on the body, and then as he gets to the halfway stage impose his size on him, I think he could get him with a stoppage down the home straight.”

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Hatton is backing Fury to win all the beltsCredit: Getty

Simon Jordan

“I think Fury wins the fight,” Jordan said on the talkBOXING podcast he shares with Spencer Oliver. “Based on my belief that he comes in the best version of himself.

“I think he’ll be too big and too strong. I think he’ll be cautious. We might have to yawn our way through the first couple of rounds.

“I think he will lean on him and slow him down with his weight. I think he’ll pop him around his midriff and I think he’ll knock him out in around eight or nine [rounds].

“I think Fury will want to knock him out. I think Fury will see it as a badge of honour to knock him out.

“I think Fury will work out Usyk in this fight and I do think he’ll knock him out.

Prince Naseem Hamed

British boxing legend and former featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed believes Fury will beat Usyk on points.

“I’m hoping Tyson Fury is going to win that fight on points,” he told Drivetime on talkSPORT.

“I believe that if he stands up in the 12th round, he will get his hand raised, regardless of what’s going to happen.

“I think it’s going to be a hard fight. All I want him to do is stand on his feet.

“Stand on his feet at the 12th round at the end of it and, God willing, it should be a points win to him [Fury].”

Boxing legend and former lineal champion Prince Naseem Hamed gives his prediction for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

Mike Tyson

The former undisputed heavyweight champion is backing Fury to join him among an elite group of undisputed heavyweight champions.

He told FightHub TV: “I’m going with Tyson Fury. I think he’s going to overpower him, catch up with him and overpower him, that’s what I think but I could be wrong.

“Little guys are difficult to fight ’cause they’re harder to hit ’cause they’re smaller.

“He runs a lot, he moves a lot, Tyson’s probably going to have a few rounds to get used to his moments but it’s going to be difficult, he’s very small, very fast.

“I got to go with Fury. I think he’s the best fighter in the world, especially in the heavyweight division.”

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Tyson expects Fury to overpower Usyk on May 18Credit: Instagram: Mike Tyson

Deontay Wilder

Former WBC champion Wilder thinks Fury’s size will be too much for Usyk, having failed to beat the Brit in their three meetings.

“Fury’s size is what makes him gain more success. When I see him against Usyk I see how they cheated [Steve] Cunningham with that clubbing, putting his weight on him and clubbing him, and I could see him doing the same thing with Usyk, putting his weight on him,” Wilder told Fight Hub TV.

“I do think Usyk has more skill, but when it comes to the size and stuff I don’t think he’ll be able to compete with the size of Fury.”

Lennox Lewis

Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion, expects Fury to be back to his best against Usyk.

“I believe that Tyson Fury has great attributes, he’s tall, he can box out of both stances, he can go forward,” he told talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver.

“Right now to me it’s difficult to beat a bigger guy so I’ll always say the bigger guy has the advantage.

“I think Tyson Fury on points, but I’m not counting out Usyk.”

Boxing legend Lennox Lewis warns Oleksandr Usyk he’s fighting the best version of Tyson Fury ahead of the much anticipated heavyweight bout

Frank Warren

Fury’s promoter Frank Warren is obviously siding with his client.

He told talkSPORT.com: “I’m confident we are going to get a vintage performance. I spoke to him during the week.

“He’s in a very good shape I think, and although he had that cut it has come good as he has had back-to-back camps.

“Physically I have never seen him look so well. The worry was going straight into a training camp was that he’d peak too soon.

“He has worked really hard so that he is in his best nick on May 18. I just feel he is going to put on a magnificent performance and stop Usyk.”

Who is backing Usyk?

Anthony Joshua

Joshua is picking his former foe to win the four-belt shootout against fellow countryman Fury.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “Well look I’ve fought Oleksandr Usyk so I can go only speak on what I have experienced from him.

“Phenomenal fighter, does everything to a tee and I would say he is going to do a really good job.

“I have never fought Tyson Fury so I can’t really speak on how he will perform or what it is like to face him so only speaking on what I know I would have to say Oleksandr Usyk will be victorious.”

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Joshua lost both of his bouts to UsykCredit: GETTY

Tony Bellew

The former cruiserweight has fought Usyk and told talkSPORT a change in his trainers may have swung the fight in the Ukrainian’s favour.

“[Tyson Fury] is a fighter that loves to press fighters and look for a knockout under the brilliant SugarHill Steward at the Kronk.

“He’s a different fighter now, he’s someone that looks for the knockout and that’s music to Oleksandr Usyk’s ears. I know because I’ve been in there with him, the boy is exceptional at what he does.

“Tyson Fury could get on top and he might be too heavy but in my opinion and from my experience, Oleksandr Usyk is going to win wide on points.”

Evander Holyfield

Holyfield, an undisputed heavyweight and cruiserweight legend, told the Telegraph: “For me the smaller guy – Usyk – appears to have greater skills, is faster, and I think that it could be a knockout.

“He’s probably going to get him, because he’s going to be able to hit him more times than Tyson can hit him

“I remember meeting Usyk and him telling me: ‘You’re Evander Holyfield. I’m going to do the same thing that you did, I’m going to unify the cruiserweight division then I’m going to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world just like you.’ I said: ‘I wish you well man.’

“I’m happy for him, but then I’ve seen him fight and he’s a left-hander who just fights real hard, doesn’t give up, always in shape.

“Fury has proven to be a good fighter, but sometimes he doesn’t take care of himself, when you let yourself go, body-wise and stuff like that, it can affect you.

“I just think that Usyk has the mindset, a great mindset pretty much just like mine… He won’t give up for nothing. But we will see. I really don’t like to choose which fighter will win, because anything could happen in this fight. They are both great fighters.”

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Holyfield fought Lennox Lewis in the last undisputed heavyweight fight 25 years agoCredit: Getty

George Groves

Groves believes Usyk will win the undisputed fight ‘comfortably’.

“I think Usyk wins, I think he’s in better form,” Groves told Grosvenor Sport.

“I know people are attacking him a bit for the Dubois performance but I thought he was very, very good. Usyk was in full control and stopped him.

“Usyk will take Fury out of his comfort zone, Fury’s a big unit and he carries a lot of weight and if Usyk makes him work harder than he used to then it’s going to be a tough night for him.

“Usyk builds into a fight and each round he cranks it up.

“I think he’s in better form, I’m going against the natural size of Fury, and I’m picking Usyk. I think he wins quite comfortably.”

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Groves likes Usyk’s chances, especially after Fury’s loss to Ngannou last time outCredit: Getty

Malik Scott

Wilder’s trainer is just giving Usyk the edge: “In terms of winner, I would go with Usyk but at the same time, Fury is big and knows how to use his size.

“Fury is in better shape than I thought he would be. He’s not slow, he has good punching power and a good boxing mind. It’s a good fight on paper. But we’ll see what happens.”

Who is on the fence?

Eddie Hearn

Promoter Hearn was originally siding with Fury, then Usyk, but seems to be changing his mind every day!

Last month, the Matchroom Boxing chief told talkSPORT: “I saw a video of Usyk the other day, he looks in tremendous shape. My pick’s going backwards and forwards. I went with Fury, now I’m with Usyk.”

This week, though, he is edging back towards Fury to get the job done and look to set up an all-British mega showdown with his fighter Joshua.

He said to TNT Sports: “I’ve spoken to a few people in the Tyson Fury camp and they feel very confident that it’s been the best camp ever; he’s in the best shape he’s ever been in.

“I feel like if he is, he wins on Saturday night. But it’s how the fight plays out. The fact that he’s come in light; I think he’s going to be looking to move a lot and box off the back foot.

“Im now confusing myself, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to go Fury [on] points. For a number of reasons: backing the Brit, wanting him to fight AJ [Anthony Joshua], and I do think the bigger man in this situation should win, but you can’t rule out Usyk, cold as they come. Emotionless.”

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Hearn has never seen eye to eye with Fury but has gone back and forth with his predictionCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Frazer Clarke

The British heavyweight told talkSPORT: “It’s so difficult to pick a winner at the minute and I’m not sure anyone can put their finger on a clear winner here.

“It’s like Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence, ‘Who do you pick? Who do you pick?’ And then it was only after two or three rounds that it became apparent that one was better than the other. I think that could be the case with this fight.

“Until they’re actually in there and one of the fighters starts dominating, you just won’t know.

“I think it goes the distance, I keep changing my mind. I was all Usyk until I’ve seen the way Tyson’s looking. I think Tyson could take it on points, but don’t quote me on that because Usyk’s looking as good. I’m gonna be that guy unfortunately and sit on the fence.”

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