A big heavyweight championship fight goes down this Saturday as boxing stars Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury collide once again in a highly anticipated rematch that could put an end to their rivalry, or perhaps even extend it.
Ahead of the colossal matchup (DAZN pay-per-view), where Usyk puts his WBA, WBO and WBC titles on the line against Fury, legendary trainer Teddy Atlas shared his thoughts and prediction. Just like their first encounter back in May – which Usyk won by decision – Atlas is sticking with the Ukranian.
“I’m taking Usyk. I think he’s going to win,” Atlas said on “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas.” “This is a guy that finds ways to win. It’s in his DNA. I don’t think it’s an accident that he wins all the time. He finds a way to win.”
Usyk (22-0) vs. Fury (34-1-1) goes down Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a historic bout for boxing given that, back in May, the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years was crowned.
Atlas believes Usyk is the more skilled fighter, just as he did in the first outing, but now there’s an added element. Atlas is concerned about the damage that Fury took in the first fight and expects him to enter the bout a bit more compromised than he did before.
“I think they left a good part of themselves in the ring that night,” Atlas said. “It was a hell of a fight, and both guys took punishment, especially Fury. Both guys are getting older, and that goes into play too. I think it comes down not if both guys left something in the ring, I don’t think there’s a doubt that they left something in the ring, but who left more.
“For me, that’s what this fight comes down: Who left more in the ring in that first fight? And I’m going to say it was Fury, that he left more of himself. If I’m right, Usyk wins. And if I’m wrong, it’s going to be one hell of a fight. Either way, I’m taking Usyk.”
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Teddy Atlas reveals determining factor in Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2
