The visuals of the first Usyk fight are exactly what Fury’s “hanwors” reputation haunts. He pulled faces and leaned on the ropes to show Usyk he couldn’t be hurt, only to find himself on “Bambi legs” by the ninth round, barely saved by the bell and the ropes.
If he tries those same antics on Saturday, April 11 against a man who is literally called “The Lion” and carries a 90% KO ratio, it could go from “showmanship” to “embarrassment” very quickly.
“I’m going to have fun,” Fury told OOOSCH TV. “I’m going to be a clown. I’m going to put my hands behind my back and taunt him. He’s going to feel frustrated, and then I’m going to know him.”
The taunt is a classic Fury staple, in regards to psychological warfare. If he can make Makhmudov swing wildly out of frustration, he’s halfway to victory.
Fury knows that Makhmudov is at his most dangerous when he is calm and on his feet. By “clowning” Fury tries to neutralize his power by frustrating him.
Makhmudov has a reputation for being an “intimidating” figure, but we haven’t seen him react to someone laughing in his face as he tries to get life-changing power.
“He’s a big puncher and very dangerous,” Fury said. “If he gets me one, he can finish me off. So, you have to be really fired up for all these fights.”
Even with that recognition, Fury returned to the idea of ​​control through pressure and unpredictability. He suggested that Makhmudov had not faced a fighter of his level, positioning himself as a step above the opposition Makhmudov had seen.
“I don’t believe he’s ever been there with an elite specimen like me,” Fury said. “When he gets in there, he’ll realize he’s completely out of his depth.”
If Fury dominates, he confirms his status as the division’s “monster”. But if he’s caught showboating or getting upset on a close decision against old Dave Allen, the “plastic CV” crowd will have all the proof they need.
