Lawrence Okolie previews Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and picks out his winner

Lawrence Okolie previews Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk undisputed heavyweight showdown

Lawrence Okolie spoke to Betway and previewed Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and believes the Brit is too big for the Ukrainian, who doesn't 'punch as hard as the majority of heavyweights'.

Londoner Okolie also discussed the possible showdown between Fury and Anthony Joshua and praised the impact of trainer Ben Davison.

How do you see Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk going?

LO: I think Tyson Fury will win that fight. He’s a bit too big, too experienced with boxers and he’s got a great style that can adapt. The things that Oleksandr Usyk is good at is going to get nullified. Oleksandr Usyk is really good at getting in and at causing pressure and throwing shots whereas Tyson Fury is so much bigger, he’ll be able to shut it down by giving it a good step back or a step forward. I think it is going to take a lot of work for a 36-year-old Usyk to do what needs to be done but you can never completely write him off.

Do you think there is concern after Tyson Fury’s win over Francis Ngannou?

LO: No, they are two completely different styles in Oleksandr Usyk and Francis Ngannou. With Francis Ngannou, he is a bigger man who when Tyson Fury tries to lean on him can push him off and is a strong, strong man. Oleksandr Usyk isn’t a strong heavyweight, he’s a great boxer. It opposes a completely different challenge so I don’t think Oleksandr Usyk have the same physical presence in the same kind of wariness because Usyk doesn’t punch as hard as the majority of heavyweights.

How would you see Fury v Joshua going?

LO: It really depends on how the Oleksandr Usyk fight goes because if Fury beats Usyk convincingly, Fury’s confidence will go up and he’ll be able to play on that Usyk beat Anthony Joshua twice. But I think if Fury labours through a decision, then the confidence from AJ might be enough to make it a really exciting power punching type of fight. I don’t know who would win but that is a great fight right now.

Both of them have the exact right style to beat the other one. As you saw with Ngannou, the strong six-foot-5 or six-foot-six man was able to take punches on the arms and punch with Fury and cause some problems. We’ve also seen AJ have some problems with master boxers so they have both got great styles for each other and I think it will blend really well.

How crucial has Ben Davison been to Anthony Joshua?

LO: I think he’s perfect. AJ has been having a good time and I think he is believing in his punching because that is one of his greatest attributes due to how quick and explosive he is as a puncher. Also with how good he is at counterpunching, I think that is something he has stepped into so I think they gel really well and tactically, they’ll be able to create a great game plan.