Malik Scott is no stranger to Tyson Fury. The former heavyweight contender, who now trains former Fury foe Deontay Wilder, is also a former Fury sparring partner.
Scot acknowledged Fury’s (34-0-1, 24 KOs) slimmed-down physique ahead of his tilt at undisputed heavyweight title glory against Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday (May 18) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fury labored to a split decision win over then-boxing debutant Francis Nagnnou in October and was forced to climb from the canvas after suffering a third-round knockdown. Post-fight, Fury’s detractors accused the WBC title holder of being unfit, underprepared, and ultimately fortunate not to be handed his first loss.
In a recent interview with Sean Zittel, Scott said he felt Fury’s physique would make Usyk’s job on Saturday much more difficult because Fury has now taken his training and preparations more seriously.
“Fury’s weight is down. Fury is one of those guys. If his weight is down, it means he’s been training extremely hard. He can’t get his weight off by going just two times a week. For Fury to get his weight off and have a certain type of body, he has to be digging,” said Scottl.
“His body says he’s been digging, and him [Fury] being in great shape makes it even more of an interesting fight. It gives Usyk a lot more problems to deal with. My favorite Fury is Wilder-Fury I. The tricky Fury, not the vulnerable Fury that’s had much success now.”
In 2018, Fury weighed 256 pounds ahead of his first clash with his American rival Wilder, bobbing and weaving but twice rising from the canvas to clinch a split draw with the hard-hitting American at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Fury weighed more than 270lbs in his back-to-back fights with Wilder, tipping the scales at 273 and 277/
Despite Fury’s recent run of knockouts and more entertaining fighting style, Scott feels the Fury of old is the natural Fury, which he prefers to watch.
“I like the small Fury that does a lot of shaking and baking, that feints that does eye decoys, and it’s in a rhythm. When his weight is down, that is the Fury he is.”
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