There is little that is loathed as much in boxing as a draw – but that’s just what one of the UK’s top boxing journalists believes will happen when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk do battle next weekend.
After a build-up that has lasted the best part of 18 months, Fury and Usyk will finally lock horns in Riyadh for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
The last man to hold that status was the great Lennox Lewis, who bested Evander Holyfield for all the marbles back in 1999.
However, that was not until after he had to settle for a draw with ‘The Real Deal’ eight months prior, and Gareth A Davies believes Fury and Usyk will also end up reaching a stalemate at the conclusion of their first meeting.
Speaking on Talksport, Davies did though state he feels the result will be “controversial.”
“I’m going to stay on record as saying I think it’s going to be a controversial draw – which is a weird pick, I know.
“I just feel that these two guys will nullify each other.
“Does it need to be vintage Tyson Fury for him to defeat Oleksandr Usyk? I think it does, but he’s had a habit of pulling out that cloak of invisibility when he’s needed to.
“He looks in great shape. I speak to his team on a regular basis and they all say he’s ready for this.
“All I want now is for those two men to step into the ring and for the referee to give them their final instructions.”
If there is nothing that separates Fury and Usyk come the final bell at the Kingdom Arena, there is already an agreement in place for a second fight, reportedly set for October, which would as a result become even more enticing.
Though with the belts almost certainly destined to fragment at the conclusion of their historic bout, a draw would almost certainly mean that no undisputed champion would be crowned.
