Fabio Wardley 'backing' Tyson Fury but 'edging towards' Oleksandr Usyk in undisputed heavyweight clash

Fabio Wardley believes that Oleksandr Usyk will beat Tyson Fury as their undisputed heavyweight clash closes in.

The British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion has trained with Fury before, in 2018 ahead of the WBC champion’s victory against Francesco Pianeta, and also sparred with Usyk when he fought at cruiserweight against Tony Bellew.

Both fighters remain undefeated, and after his most recent action in August last year, Usyk remains the unified heavyweight champion, meaning that the upcoming fight is for the undisputed championship at heavyweight.

The clash, shown live on TNT Sports Box Office on May 18, will mark the coronation of the first-ever undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, and the first of any kind since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Wardley lent his support to Fury but his head said that the Ukrainian was the likely winner.

"I always will back the Brit and I want the Brit [Fury] to win the fight," he said.

"But I think I am edging it towards Usyk, I think mentality plays a massive part in boxing.

"Especially in terms of focus, where you are at and what you want and I think Fury has achieved so much and been in the spotlight for so long.”

Fury’s most recent fight was in October 2023, against Francis Ngannou, where he laboured to a split-decision victory. Wardley gave his reasoning for that sub-par showing.

"I really like him and he's a great bloke, and I think he under-estimated Francis Ngannou and I believe some of that may carry over,” he cautioned.

"Both were a complete nightmare in their own right, and certainly weren't a comfortable spar."

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