TYSON FURY has revealed he applauded Sky Sports’ Adam Smith when he slammed Johnny Nelson for labelling Oleksandr Usyk an ‘average southpaw’.
Nelson, who was cruiserweight world champion between 1999 and 2005, incredibly claimed in 2021 that pound-for-pound superstar Usyk was not a standout boxer compared to other southpaws.
Sky Sports presenter and commentator Smith took umbrage to that view.
And Fury has declared he agreed with Smith in slamming Nelson’s controversial point.
Grabbing the mic and interviewing the Sky man on iFL TV, Fury said: “A couple of months ago Johnny Nelson said to you that Oleksandr Usyk is an average southpaw cruiserweight.
“And I was actually very impressed with your thing. You was absolutely livid, absolutely boiling. You was like ‘arghhhh’. Can you tell us a bit more about it?”
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And Smith explained: “I was doing an interview and Johnny just said he was an average southpaw and I just took complete offence to that.
“I think he is a fantastic fighter. I think he was a wonderful amateur. He was brilliant against Joshua and I thought that was a disgraceful thing for my good friend and colleague to say.
“But there we go, that’s his opinion.”
Fury then replied: “I was actually clapping in the room because that was amazing. So well done for that.”
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Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist from London 2012, beat Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September to claim the IBF, WBA and WBO world titles.
And he defended his belts in their rematch on August 20 in Saudi Arabia last year.
Meanwhile, Fury followed up his win against Dillian Whyte with a resounding victory over Derek Chisora.
It sets up a potential Usyk v Fury fight – which has been pencilled in for April 29, according to Frank Warren.
The venue is yet to be confirmed – with Saudi Arabia and London as suggestions.
Recent reports have suggested Fury already has another opponent on his radar, should he be victorious over the Ukrainian.
Fury is said to want a meet with Joe Joyce on home soil.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
