By Shaun Murphy-
The world of professional boxing has always thrived on rivalries, trash talk, and dramatic confrontations, and the latest feud involving Tyson Fury, Alexander Usyk, and Daniel Dubois is no exception.
Fury, the charismatic heavyweight champion known for his fiery personality both in and out of the ring, has accused Usyk and Dubois of being “quitters,” a statement that has added fuel to the already simmering rivalry between these fighters.
Tyson Fury’s boxing journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Throughout his career, he has faced formidable opponents, and even hit the canvas on several occasion- six times in all- but never tasted defeat.
Notably, Fury was knocked down a total of four times in his two epic battles with heavy hititng Deontay Wilder. In their first encounter, Fury’s remarkable ability to rise from the canvas after a devastating knockdown became a defining moment in his career.
Many boxing experts believed he deserved to win the fight on points, but he had to settle for a controversial draw.
In their second meeting, Fury demonstrated his indomitable spirit once again. After enduring fierce exchanges and a knockdown, he fought back and ultimately defeated Wilder in the 11th round. Fury’s reputation as a fighter who always gets back up, both metaphorically and literally, has solidified his status as one of boxing’s modern legends.
The Accusation of “Quitters”
Fury’s recent comments about Usyk and Dubois have stirred the pot in the boxing world. He didn’t mince words, stating, “I thought he lost [to Dubois] and he quit so he’s a little, quitting [coward].” Fury’s choice of words is characteristic of the brash and confrontational style that fans have come to expect from him.
In the case of Alexander Usyk, Fury was taken aback by his performance against Daniel Dubois. Usyk, the undisputed cruiserweight world champion who seamlessly transitioned to the heavyweight division, found himself on the canvas in a manner that surprised many.
Fury expressed his disappointment, saying, “I thought he was a warrior, I thought he was a true little fighting man. But he’s clearly not, he’s just a little wussy.”
Regarding Daniel Dubois, Fury’s assessment was equally harsh. Dubois, known for his promising career as a young heavyweight prospect, faced Usyk in a highly anticipated bout.
After taking a jab from Usyk, Dubois did not beat the referee’s count, leading to his defeat. Fury’s verdict was straightforward: “But the truth is the truth and that’s it.”
Fans interviewed said Fury had lost credibility, and is no place to call the undefeated and Ukranian world champion a quitter.
Davis Allan, 28 told The Eye Of Media: ”Look Fury has achieved a lot in heavyweight boxing, but can’t call Usyk a quitter when he won the fight against Dubois handsdown.
‘That blow was low, yes it might have just been on the belt , but it looked low. Usyk knew he had been granted time to recover, Had the referee been counting, he may well have got up.
He can’t call him a quitter, he avoided taking the fight, and everyone knows that. he ducked out of the fight because after talking so big, when it came to reality, he was scared of the possibility of losing on points. He knew that was a strong possibility, so looked for his way out”.
Another fight fan, Marlon Reed , 32said: ” Usyk is no quitter, let’s face it he won that fight. The shot was low, and the fact the referee ruled it as a low blow, make it none sensical to call Usyk a quitter.
Fury is looking for a way to put Usyk down. Indeed Fury is known for never quitting out of the ring, but he quit from taking the fight against Usyk. He is simply showing is loyalty to his promoter Frank Warren by calling Usyk a quitter.
He needs to be quiet and fight Usyk as soon as he beats Ngannou. For once he should wait and let his fists do the talking, but many of his fans are not sure now that he can beat Usyk, or is confident of defeating him”.
A third fight fan, Norman Tomlinson disagreed. Hr said: ”Tyson should have fought Usyk when the opportunity came, but he knows he is the leading heavyweight so he can do what he wants.
Fury is still the man to beat, and he knows he can fight who he wants and go for the biggest money prize, and come back and fight Usyk later. The size gap between Fury and Usyj on top of Fury’s speed and mobility to me tells me Tyson will beat him, and deep down believes this;;
The Semblance of Bitter Rivalry
The boxing world is no stranger to bitter rivalries and longstanding grudges between fighters. In the case of Tyson Fury and Alexander Usyk, the rivalry talk has been brewing for some time. Many fans and boxing analysts believe that Fury has avoided Usyk, with negotiations for an undisputed championship fight falling apart earlier this year.
Fury’s initial offer of a 70-30 split in his favor was widely criticized as an attempt to create an impossible situation, thereby sidestepping the risk of losing to the elusive former cruiserweight undisputed world champion turned undisputed heavyweight world champion.
The bitter rivalry talk is fueled by fans’ desire to witness a showdown between these two heavyweight titans. Usyk’s impressive rise to the top of the division has posed a significant threat to Fury’s dominance, making their potential clash a tantalizing prospect for boxing enthusiasts.
Negotiations and the Future
Despite the collapsed negotiations, Fury did not rule out the possibility of revisiting a fight with Usyk. However, he insisted that any future bout would have to be on his terms. Fury declared, “If Usyk is a good little boy, he might be an option, but if he isn’t, he will just be another foreign middleweight that stays out in the cold.”
Fury’s reference to a “good little boy” and the terms of the fight reflect the contentious nature of negotiations in professional boxing. The rivalry between fighters often extends beyond the ring and into the realm of contract negotiations, purse splits, and promotional considerations.
Fury’s next challenge is an unconventional one. He is set to take on former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing match on October 28. This matchup has been criticized by several boxing fans who see him as avoiding the real challenge the quick Usyk could pose to him and take his unbeaten record.
Boxing fans will rather see Fury fight Usyk than fight Ngannou who though is a solid UFC world champion, is used to fighting with his legs and head.
Their big celebrity fight is viewed by most fight fans as a circus, but Fury who is still regarded as the most dominant heavyweight today, has the command of status and money to stage whatever show he pleases.
Today, Tyson stripped off to pose for cameras as he and Ngannou both came to London for a red carpet launch event, culminating in an intense face-off between the two giants.
Tyson Fury in fight poses bare cheat a little distance from Ngannou
Despite being 6’4″ and weighing around 280lb outside of his UFC bouts where he had to cut under 265lb, Ngannou was the smaller man when he went head-to-head with 6’9″ Fury. The pair last met over a year ago at Wembley Stadium, where they verbally agreed to fight once the MMA star was out of his restrictive contract
However, until he meets and defeat Usyk, his no 1 position in the court of public opinion is in doubt.
Daniel Dubois’s promoter, Frank Warren, has appealed the defeat his man faced against Usyk, arguing that the low blow was a legal shot that should have ended Usyk’s dream of retaining his title and secured Dubois as world heavyweight champion.
He is hoping the WBA rule the fight a no contest and order a rematch.
The WBA is yet to rule on the appeal.