Paulie Malignanggi believes Tyson Fury is not the same fighter he once was and will fall short against Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch on Saturday.
Fury bids to exact revenge for his split decision loss to Usyk in May, when he meets the Ukrainian for a second time in Riyadh.
Fury was given a standing eight count after stumbling into the ropes following a huge attack from his rival and Malignaggi feels the three fights he had with Deontay Wilder, in which he was dropped four times, are beginning to catch up with him.
“I don’t know if Wilder or Fury are the same after those three fights,” the 41-year-old told talkSPORT Boxing.
“Wilder certainly didn’t look the same anymore and Fury to me, his punch resistance was always amongst the best.
“He’s gotten up from Deontay Wilder punches that would have caved in buildings and now Oleksandr Usyk, a former cruiserweight was turning him and dropping him in the first fight.
“What is the lingering effects of the trilogy with Wilder?
“Who is one of the most devastating punchers in history.”
’The Gypsy King’ suffered the first defeat of his 36-fight professional career, but has vowed to end the 37-year-old’s career on Saturday.
Usyk remains undefeated over the course of his 22-fight professional tenure and won the undisputed heavyweight championship in May, the first man in the four-belt era to do so.
And former world champion, Malignaggi believes Usyk, who relinquished his IBF belt after the first bout, will repeat the feat.
“I’m gonna pick Usyk,” he added.
“I don’t think Fury has it any more.
“It’s not a disrespect to Fury.
“I’ve always loved Fury, I’m just not sure he can summon it back anymore.”
Frank Warren revealed today that a third fight between the pair is contractually stipulated – provided Fury emerges victorious and neither retires – whist a long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua could be an alternative option for the Manchester man.
