Wladimir Klitschko: Oleksandr Usyk Will Beat Tyson Fury And Keep Me Retired | Boxing news

Wladimir Klitschko is backing Oleksandr Usyk to defeat Tyson Fury when they rematch live this Saturday. Sky Sports box office.

Boxing legend Klitschko has been linked with an unexpected return to the sport to claim a world heavyweight title at the record age of 48.

It was Fury who defeated the Ukrainian star in 2015 when he became a unified heavyweight champion for the first time.

The rematch the following year never materialized. But while Klitschko might consider fighting Fury for a world championship, he would never box compatriot Usyk.

Klitschko said it too Sky Sports: “Oleksandr Usyk will keep me retired.

“It’s not going to go well. I’m going to stay retired. He’s going to keep me retired.”

Klitschko has not boxed since his 2017 loss to Anthony Joshua. But despite being one of Ukraine’s most prominent international defenders, he insists he has remained on good terms.

“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 your dream of becoming the champion oldest in the world come true’.

“I said, ‘Olexandr, what are you talking about, your fight is going to happen, you are preparing me, keep me retired.’

“So he promised, ‘I’ll do it, I’ll keep it (the championship) but I wish you this.'”

Klitschko believes Usyk will be able to retain the WBC, WBO and WBA world titles he holds when he fights Fury this weekend.

“Oleksandr will repeat history,” insisted Klitschko. “It’s going to be déjà vu. So replay. That’s actually what’s happening. I was here for the first fight. It feels the same and it looks the same and it’s the same.

“It’s all about strategy. It’s all about technique.”

Klitschko is full of admiration for Usyk and has a long relationship with his Ukrainian compatriot.

“I remember when Oleksandr won the Klitschko tournament as a teenager, this amateur tournament he was fighting in was named after me and he became champion. He actually loved me. So now I’m looking up to him. How life is amazing,” Klitschko said.

“Let’s cross our fingers that this time too he will prove that he is the baddest man on the planet, Oleksandr Usyk.”

‘Usyk is unbreakable!’

Usyk and Fury fight for the second time at Saturday’s Riyadh event of the season at the Kingdom Arena.

A split decision win over Fury in May saw Usyk become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, making him the undisputed two-weight ruler and the first heavyweight to achieve that status since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Fury, however, is determined to avenge his first professional loss and beat Usyk. They faced off for the first time in fight week at Thursday’s press conference, and neither man allowed himself to even blink, let alone break away from the intense stare.

It was over 11 minutes before they were finally allowed to drive them.

“It was far,” promoter Alex Krassyuk said Sky Sports after this confrontation.

However, he doesn’t think the Usyk-Fury fight itself will do that. He advises Usyk to end it soon.

“I think he’s going to end up going the distance,” Krassyuk said. “I hope (Fury) is better prepared, much better prepared for this one.

“So conditioning is not an issue in this fight. The stamina is there. Technically, well, Usyk is better, but Tyson is very good. Cut, of course, the advantage is on Tyson’s side, but what gives you victory?”

At that moment, Krassyuk pointed to his head and heart.

He then added: “You can’t break Oleksandr Usyk. He will never go away when it comes to the fight.

“For me it was like a full round of 12,” the promoter said describing the press conference.

“Mentally that’s one thing that helps you get the win. Mental strength. Usyk has mental strength. It doesn’t matter if he’s in bad shape, in good shape, he’s finding a way to win. Figuring out a way to win.

“That’s why Tyson is nervous.”

The big heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will be live on Saturday, December 21 at Sky Sports box office. Pre-order Usyk v Fury 2 now!