Tyson Fury remains the second-best heavyweight on the planet, but he has not fully come to terms with his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, says former world champion and Sky Sports boxing expert Johnny Nelson.
“Now he’s back, out of everybody out there bar Usyk, Tyson Fury has the most credentials, pedigree, character in and out of the ring,” Nelson said. “The only thing he hasn’t got is the age on his side. I don’t think he’s got the legs he used to have. He’s got everything else. So he’s got to be smart enough in regards to who he picks to fight and the fights he has.”
Nelson thinks Fury remains the clear No.2 until someone proves otherwise, but accepts that being dethroned is a tough pill for a former world champion. “If you’re a world champion and you really believe you’re the best fighter in the world, that takes some arrogance,” he added. That mindset, Nelson says, makes it hard for fighters to accept no longer being “the man.”
Comparing Fury’s situation to Deontay Wilder’s post-defeat struggles, Nelson suggests Fury is still processing the Usyk results and “trying to find himself,” even replaying Usyk’s performances to convince himself he can win a rematch.
Looking at Fury’s next steps, Nelson recommends a fight with Fabio Wardley. He believes that once Fury has faced Arslanbek Makhmudov, his appetite and performance will determine the next move — and promoter Frank Warren would give him the fight he wants. “If Wardley’s still champion, it’ll be Wardley and that’s a good fight,” Nelson said.
Watch Terri Harper fight Caroline Dubois for the WBC and WBO world lightweight championships live on Sky Sports on Sunday April 5.