Tyson Fury will see Oleksandr Usyk as there for the taking after Dubois scare

Wood vs Warrington a world class fight

Leigh Wood puts his WBA featherweight title on the line against Josh Warrington in Sheffield on Saturday and I am confident that will be an absolute cracker.

I think both of them are better fighters than they were a year ago, just simply because of the calibre of opponent they have been up against. Both have been in there with real killers which I think makes them better.

Josh had that brilliant knockout win against Kiko Martinez but then came up short against Luis Alberto Lopez – and we now know how good he is. Leigh lost the title but was absolutely brilliant in winning it back against that monster Mauricio Lara.

This one will catch alight; they have been in there dealing with massive punchers. I think Leigh is a bigger puncher than Josh but you could flip a coin for the winner. It is a world class fight, no doubt.

There has been a bit of speculation about the futures of both fighters if they were to lose. But you can never say if a fighter is looking at the end of his career until the fight is done. If you have a 12 round war where both box brilliantly and one just edges it, the other is still in a great position.

But given the stages both men find themselves in their careers, they are looking for that big unification fight next. They both want to box at the top table and the other who doesn’t win will need to look elsewhere. But we like it when there’s a lot on the line. The loser isn’t necessary done but it will depend on the manner in which they lose.

Fight prediction

I just think Leigh Wood has come on so much. That last win over Lara and the momentum he has from that, I think he would be confident against anyone in the world right now.

I’ll go with Wood to get the win but it is a hard night’s work. Josh is a great fighter, I struggle to pick a winner but I think he champion edges it.

No more obstacles to Fury vs Usyk?

We know Tyson Fury has the tendency to be a bit tongue-in-cheek when talking about who he wants to fight and who he doesn’t, but now he is in a position where he sees Usyk there for the taking. I think it happens but I hope nothing gets in the way of it now.

Dubois scare will have encouraged Fury

Of course, he has to deal with Francis Ngannou first. You have to give these people their respect. I saw a picture of Ngannou and his height surprised me, he is not as big as a I thought he was. You wonder how he even gets close to him.

‘Tyson’s job here is to look good, be effective and put him in his place which I think he will be able to do at any point. Of course, he has to remember what is coming back because these boys can hit and all it takes is that one punch.

In all honestly, Ngannou shocking the world is the last thing we need! That is why the Fury vs Usyk announcement was quite surprising, I thought the announcement would be after the fight in October. But they have gone with it early because they are confident with Tyson and so they should be.

Time goes quick when you are a boxer and what we want to see his activity. Fury will train for the Ngannou fight and he might have to go straight back into camp. I am sure Usyk had a little break but is probably ticking over again now.

The talk is the fight is happening in December, just before Christmas. If that happens it would be fantastic but that is a bit too quick for me, I don’t think that should be the timeframe.

A bad night for Jeamie TKV as Opetaia makes huge statement

I was at the BOXXER show last Saturday watching on as Jeamie TKV took a loss against Igor Macedo. It just went to underline the difference in levels between us right now.

There was a lot of talk from him and his team saying they want me next. Every interview leading up to the fight was about me. I have probably been there in that position before in my career as an amateur and have learned my lesson the hard way.

Jai Opetaia made a serious statement with his knockout win over Jordan Thompson. This sport is one that gives opportunities to those that deserve it and Jordan Thompson, Tony Sims and the team all worked their socks off to get him there. He dared to be great. But there are levels in boxing.

Opetaia is a level above. from his attitude to the skill he shows, he is the fight for anyone in the division, the man to beat. The Chris Billam-Smith fight would be a great fight. That division is one where they can all box each other, there shouldn’t be too many politics involved.

But off that performance, the Australian is the man to beat.

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