Wladimir Klitschko is backing Oleksandr Usyk to beat Tyson Fury when they rematch this Saturday live on Sky Sports box office.
Boxing legend Klitschko has been linked with an unexpected return to the sport to pursue a world heavyweight title at the age of 48.
It was Fury who defeated the Ukrainian star in 2015 when he became the unified heavyweight champion.
A recurrence the following year never occurred. But while Klitschko might consider fighting Fury for a world championship, he would never box his countryman Usyk.
Klitschko also told Sky Sports: “Olexandr Usyk is going to keep me retired.
“It's not going to happen right. I'm going to stay in retirement. It's going to keep me in retirement.”
Klitschko has not boxed since his 2017 loss to Anthony Joshua. But despite being one of the most famous international advocates in Ukraine, he insists that he has remained in good shape.
“I remember Oleksandr called me at the end of March this year, on my birthday and said: 'Champ, I wish you a happy birthday and I wish may your dream of being the oldest champion in the world come true.'
“I said: 'Oleksandr what are you talking about, your fight is coming up, you are preparing, keep me on my job.'
“So he promised: 'I'm going to do it, I'm going to hold (the tournament) but I wish you that.'”
Klitschko believes Usyk will be able to retain his WBC, WBO and WBA world titles when he fights Fury this weekend.
“Olexandr is going to repeat history,” Klitschko said. “It's going to be déjà vu. So repeat. That is exactly what is happening. I was here for the first fight. It just feels the same and it looks the same and it's the same.
“It's about strategy. It's about technique.”
Klitschko has the utmost respect for Usyk and has a long association with his fellow Ukrainian.
“I remember when Oleksandr was winning the Klitschko tournament as a teenager, this amateur tournament he was fighting in carried my name and he became the champion. He was looking up to me. So now I look up to him. life is amazing,” said Klitschko.
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Oleksandr Usyk was accompanied by a live show as he worked in public for his rematch with Tyson Fury, on December 21
“We're going to keep our fingers crossed and this time he's going to show that he's the baddest man on the planet, Oleksandr Usyk.
'Usik is incredible!'
Usyk and Fury will fight for the second time at Saturday's Riyadh Season event at the Kingdom Arena.
A split decision win over Fury in May made Usyk the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, making him the undisputed two-weight ruler and the first heavyweight to achieve that status from Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Fury however wants to avenge his first professional loss and beat Usyk. At a press conference on Thursday they faced each other for the first time in a week of fighting and neither man would let himself go so much as blink, let alone break away from the real scene.
It lasted over 11 minutes until they finally allowed themselves to be removed.
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Tyson Fury broke the ice after his head-to-head with Oleksandr Usyk by breaking into a traditional Saudi dance
“He went the distance,” promoter Alex Krassyuk said Sky Sports after that resist.
However, he doesn't think the Usyk-Fury fight itself will do that. He praised Usyk for an early finish.
“I think it will end within a distance,” Krassyuk said. “I expect him (Fury) to be better prepared, better prepared for this one.
“So position is not an issue in this fight. Stamina is there. Technically, well, Usyk is better but Tyson is very good. Size, of course, the advantage is on Tyson's side but what will win to you?”
At that Krassyuk pointed to his head and heart.
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Tyson Fury broke the ice after his head-to-head with Oleksandr Usyk by breaking into a traditional Saudi dance
Then he said: “You can't break Oleksandr Usyk. He doesn't quit when it comes to fighting.
“To me it was like a total 12 rounder,” the promoter said describing the press conference stop.
“Mentally, this is something that helps you win. Mental strength. Usyk has mental strength. It doesn't matter if he's in a bad state, in a good state, he finds a way to win .Creating the way to win.
“That's why Tyson is nervous.”
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury's epic heavyweight rematch will be live on Saturday 21st December. Sky Sports box office. Book Usyk v Fury 2 now!
