They are two contrasting heavyweights — in style, skill and power — and Tyson Fury has faced them a combined five times.
After bamboozling Wladimir Klitschko in Germany to claim the lineal heavyweight championship and three world titles, Fury’s subsequent fall from grace led to an unlikely resurgence in which both Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk played pivotal roles.
His comeback, launched with the backing of promoter Frank Warren, didn’t begin explosively but was steady enough through wins over Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta. Then, in December 2018, Fury chose to gamble against WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, the division’s most destructive puncher in decades.
The “Gypsy King” climbed off the brink of defeat to earn a draw in their first fight, dismantled Wilder’s greatest asset in the rematch and stopped him, and then shared a dramatic, knockdown-laden trilogy bout that would hold its own in any era.
From a 6ft 6ins roaring American with dynamite in his right hand, Fury then moved on to the 6ft 3ins southpaw mastery of Oleksandr Usyk. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion brought his wizardry to heavyweight, beating Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and eventually Tyson Fury.
Fury’s bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight king since Lennox Lewis was halted by a masterclass from Usyk in May 2024 — a performance highlighted by a round-nine assault that came close to stopping the 6ft 9ins Brit.
Speaking to BoxNation months after the loss, Fury, 34-2-1 (24 KOs), was asked about Usyk’s punching power. And while he didn’t place the Ukrainian on Wilder’s level, he offered a measured assessment.
“He’s not like a feather duster puncher but he’s not like a Wilder puncher. Obviously, he’s got his knockouts but I wouldn’t say he’s the biggest puncher I’ve ever faced but I wouldn’t say he’s the lightest.”
Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs), may soon learn how Wilder’s power feels after calling out “The Bronze Bomber” for a title fight in 2026.