Fury vs. Usyk: Greetings and welcome to my initial boxing preview for 2024! An intriguing season filled with significant contests is anticipated as some of the sport’s most renowned figures prepare to contend for prestigious accolades. Observers of the noble craft are eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.
The boxing schedule commences on a positive note on Sunday morning in Canada as Englishman Callum Smith challenges Russian knockout artist Artur Beterbiev for the IBF, WBC, and WBO world light heavyweight championships.
I will conclude this article with a detailed analysis of Beterbiev vs. Smith, including my predictions for the main event and a summary of the most recent wagering odds offered by Betfair.
In the interim, however, let us contemplate the events that lie ahead in 2024, one of which may be a thriller.
An additional crossover battle
When crossover matches between MMA fighters and boxing champions were merely a topic of discourse between two well-oiled partygoers in a kitchen during the wee hours, they were purely fantastical. As a result of the participation of Floyd Mayweather, Tyson Fury, and Jake Paul, crossover bouts are now a commonplace occurrence in boxing organizations around the world.
Francis Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion and knockout artist, is presumably familiar to you. His precisely timed uppercut to Tyson Fury on the posterior in Saudi Arabia late last year belonged to him.
Ngannou was defeated on points in his ten-round boxing debut by the busier Fury, but he earned the respect of boxing enthusiasts worldwide. On March 8th, he is scheduled to face Anthony Joshua, another British heavyweight, in the squared circle.
It came as a complete astonishment to me when this bout was declared, particularly considering that Eddie Hearn, AJ’s promoter, had expressed disapproval regarding the announcement and subsequent fight between Fury and Ngannou. Joshua has the opportunity to secure a significant victory by dispatching a formidable adversary.
It will have no bearing on his global standing, but Joshua has the opportunity to knock out Fury and humiliate him, as Fury struggled against the same opponent despite lacking boxing experience.
Joshua is priced at 1/6 on the Betfair Sportsbook, where he is the pre-fight favorite. A KO/TKO victory is more appealing at 3/10 for the Englishman, whereas a points victory is acceptable at 13/2.
Those seeking Ngannou to cause an upset in his second appearance will find him priced at 4/1, which is shorter than I had anticipated.
The one everyone desires to see
Unsubstantiated rumors have circulated regarding a potential unification contest involving Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. To be fair, these rumors have been circulating in the press ever since the Ukrainian defeated Joshua in London and then again in a Saudi rematch. However, the rumors do appear to contain some truth, and we are unquestionably progressing on the correct track.
If Fury and Usyk ultimately share a ring this year, most likely in Saudi Arabia for absurd money, boxing fans will finally have what they’ve desired for far too long: a unified heavyweight world champion.
However, will that be Usyk or Fury? You may place your bets at the Betfair Sportsbook, where another victory by the unblemished Fury is odds-on at 8/11, Usyk is 11/10, and the draw is 16/1.
This matchup pits two unblemished heavyweight champions against one another. That is contingent upon Fury. He should surpass Usyk in size, strength, and height if his preparation is executed as intended and he enters the match with his mind focused. I would anticipate Fury to enter the ring as incredibly hefty as ever, which is saying something, and then utilize his numerous advantages over the lesser opponent.
Usyk, as he demonstrated against Joshua, is an exceptional boxer, but I doubt he could contend with the bulky Fury and his jab-jab-grab style.
Imagine you are a former cruiserweight champion leveraging your weight in the clinches against a monstrous heavyweight in Fury. That would rapidly sap the energy from Usyk’s legs, rendering him a more immobile adversary than previously observed. Consequently, Fury’s powerful punches would target him in the middle and later rounds.
Smith vs. Beterbiev forecast
This fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Sunday at 04:00 GMT.
Beterbiev possesses a formidable record of 19 victories from the same number of bouts, all of which transpired at close range. The Betfair Sportsbook offers pre-bout wagering odds that reflect the gravity of the situation regarding a Russian fighter who has achieved a 100% knockout average.
Bettors will find their man trading at a 1/5 odds ratio, which is difficult to oppose given his current form.
Prefer to place a wager with improved odds? You will probably discover something that piques your interest in the market for methods of victory. The champion is 2/5 to win by KO/TKO and 5/1 to earn his career-first points decision. I am placing a late cessation bet on him, covering rounds 7 through 12 at a convenient 11/10.
Callum Smith of Liverpool arrives in Canada with a record of 29 victories and one defeat, including the spare that Saul Alvarez administered in 2021. Canelo and Mundo endured until the final round of round 12, when Mundo heard the bell, but lost by a wide margin of points.
Following two early stoppage victories, he has since contested in less than six rounds throughout his last two bouts. Such passivity will not benefit him in the face of a formidable adversary wielding dynamic power.
