Billy Joe Saunders has warned Tyson Fury against taking Oleksandr Usyk lightly and feels the Ukrainian will be a dangerous threat for six rounds.
Fury and Usyk signed contracts to fight each other last week in Saudi Arabia to crown the undisputed heavyweight champion in either December or early next year, with the bout hinging on Fury overcoming former UFC star Francis Ngannou on October 28.
Saunders, who is plotting his own return to the ring in December having not fought since defeat to Canelo Alvarez in May 2021, feels ‘The Gypsy King’ will have to weather a storm, but expects him to defeat the WBA ‘super’ IBF and WBO titlist.
“Usyk causes him problems, but don’t beat him,” Saunders told Up Front with Simon Jordan.
“I think Usyk causes any heavyweight and any fighter on the planet serious problems, but Tyson Fury has the keys to his lock.
“It won’t be a one-sided beatdown, not until at least six rounds are out the way, but for six rounds Usyk is a dodgy, dodgy, dodgy customer and I’ve told Tyson this, for anybody.”
Fury has been out of the ring since successfully defending his WBC crown with a 10th round stoppage of Derek Chisora in their trilogy in December.
The 35-year-old claimed at the Ngannou press conference that he had no interest in facing Usyk, after the pair failed to reach a deal for a proposed April showdown.
However, Saunders insists the Manchester man will face both Usyk and Anthony Joshua before hanging up his gloves.
“No matter what he says and what he don’t say,” he said.
“When he says he doesn’t need to [fight] and ‘I ain’t gonna fight that one,’ he does that for reaction.
“Trust me and I’ll have the same bet with you that I gambled earlier that Eubank Jr doesn’t become world champion, he will fight Joshua, he will fight Usyk, he will fight whoever there is he needs to fight.
“But I will gamble them two fighters Joshua and Usyk will one million per cent happen.”
