Is Oleksandr Usyk Fighting An Unfair Fight?

Oleksandr Usyk (21-0) has a daunting task on his hands. This Saturday, he faces Tyson Fury (34-0-1) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the undisputed heavyweight championship. But there might be more troubling circumstances that the undefeated Ukrainian fighter might be facing.

Usyk’s team complained about the ring canvas for the upcoming fight, stating that the canvas seam coming together was faulty. Keep in mind this is the same canvas seam that will be used for the fight, which could cause problems.

But that brings up an interesting question about the fight. Is Oleksandr Usyk facing an uphill battle with the fight? First, he had to deal with John Fury, Tyson Fury’s father, headbutting a member of Usyk’s team. Now, he must deal with potentially unfair ring conditions that could cost him the undisputed heavyweight championship.

Why That Isn’t The Case

Conspiracy theories are often brought up about sports, with cries of “rigged” and “fixed” pouring in. More than ever, the outcries have gotten louder, especially after this year’s Super Bowl. Some will say there’s a sense of favoritism for certain teams. Some are still scarred from the Tim Donaghy scandal, which changed the NBA forever.

With the controversy surrounding Shohei Ohtani, those flames are being reignited. People think something’s up with today’s sports landscape, where the more popular athletes get favorable treatment. However, that isn’t necessarily the case.

It would spark a controversial debate and some laws would also be triggered. Saudi Arabia is strict on sports betting and will investigate matters of alleged fixing. Therefore, such an incident can’t occur without the kingdom’s knowledge.

What Oleksandr Usyk Can Do

However, that doesn’t mean that Oleksandr Usyk is out of the woods yet. Fury is also a dominant fighter, exuding overwhelming power in every fight. Usyk must stick to his strengths and rely on his intelligence and quickness to win the fight.

Additionally, the Ukrainian boxer must extend the fight. That means taking Fury out of his element and working him. That also means speeding up the fight and keeping the British boxer on his toes. Consequentially, that will lead to a better experience for Usyk (and Fury’s first loss).

The 37-year-old has faced an uphill battle in the past week. He’s dealing with a crazy father who headbutts people and is also fighting on a mundane canvas. However, that shouldn’t deter Usyk from competing against Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship. After all, he’s here to become a champion.