Johnny Nelson believes Tyson Fury could quit boxing after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in the duo’s fight for the undisputed world heavyweight championship on Saturday night.
Fury suffered a split decision loss as he relinquished his WBC belt and undefeated record, with Usyk becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
The Gypsy King was counted out during a brutal and ultimately decisive ninth round that saw Fury saved by the bell after finding himself the target of a vicious assault from Usyk.
He later disputed the fight’s decision and emphasized his desire for a rematch later this year.
“I think Tyson Fury will be devastated by this result,” Nelson said of Sky Sports Boxing.
“Tyson’s team will have serious discussions about his motivation after this and allow him to come to his senses.
“Don’t be surprised if Tyson leaves.
“What more can he do? How can he improve from this? This defeat would have made him lose his head and his heart.”
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Look back at the moment Oleksandr Usyk knocked down Tyson Fury in the ninth round with the British fighter saved by the bell.
Usyk started the brighter of the two winning the opening rounds, before Fury regained control of the fight when he began to find joy with shots to the Ukrainian’s body midway.
A fierce left hand from Usyk would then leave his opponent with a bloody nose, followed by a game-defining flashpoint in the ninth round when Mark Nelson ordered a knockdown after Fury was held up by the ropes in the corner of the ring after the Usyk’s attack. .
“Usyk started smart, Tyson decided to showboat and say ‘I’m better than you’ rather than show he’s better than him,” Nelson added.
“He’ll miss the showboating, but maybe at the same time, it was him trying to push and get the better of Usyk. For the first quarter, Usyk did the right thing, and then Tyson got the better of Usyk. started to find its measurement, to find the length.
“Tyson was basically on the back foot all the time, the times he put his foot down and pushed Usyk were the times he had successes.
“He’s lost confidence in that, what do you do? There’s showboating. You can be busy looking good, but you’re going to lose doing it.”
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Tyson Fury disagreed with the split decision outcome and insisted he wants a rematch against champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Nelson suggested Fury’s showboating could have “caused him to lose the fight” by allowing Usyk to continue to advance on the front foot despite the pressure on his body.
“When you see him moving forward, using his power, his height, his reach, that’s when he was controlling Usyk and hurting him,” Nelson said.
“The complacency showed, he was the one thinking ‘I’m the king, you come to me.’ Tyson was trying to fight his way under pressure, and Usyk was consistent from the start.
“Win the first three, lose the next three, but always keep the pressure on Fury. Anytime Tyson put his foot down and had pressure is when he was successful.”
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Oleksandr Usyk dedicates his victory to becoming undisputed world champion against Tyson Fury.
Usyk underlined his qualities of greatness as he weathered the Fury storm to let his elite skills prevail once again, earning his coronation as undisputed two-weight champion following his success at cruiserweight.
“Usyk kept the pressure on and as the championship rounds progressed, he started landing cleanly with his left hand,” Nelson continued.
“Tyson showed his heart, his guts, but he was gone, he faded and the ropes saved him. In reality, even when Deontay Wilder hit him, he wasn’t that bad.
“Usyk kept the pressure on and towards the end, showboating caused Fury to lose the fight.
“The good man deservedly won. I know Tyson Fury said he thought he won, I don’t know if it’s a scam, but he didn’t win.”
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk had an epic battle for the undisputed world heavyweight titles. Book replays now on Sky Sports Box Office.
