GEORGE GROVES has predicted Tyson Fury will either rematch Francis Ngannou or RETIRE without ever fighting Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury faced ex-UFC champion Ngannou knowing he had already signed to face Usyk in a title unification eight weeks later.
But the Gypsy King’s expected routine return against boxing debutant Ngannou, 37, in Saudi Arabia turned into a horror show.
He was dropped in round three and fortunate in the eyes of many to walk away with a split-decision win.
Having been left battered, bruised and his ego dented, the December 23 Christmas cracker with Usyk faces the KO.
And former super-middleweight champion Groves fears the heavyweight super-fight may never happen after all.
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He said on Sky Sports:”There is not a chance the Usyk fight is happening on that date.
“It is not Usyk on December 23, I don’t think it’s Usyk next. I think it’s either Ngannou or that’s the last of Fury.
“He tells everyone he is the Gypsy King, that he is the man, no fighter can ever beat him.
“There is someone right now who can beat him and it’s Usyk. A lot of people will think the same.
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“He doesn’t need to roll the dice and get beat off the little gap-toothed Ukrainian guy. He’d rather just sail off into the sunset.
“He is an interesting character and there are lots of avenues he can explore after boxing. Doors that might be shut on him or not the same if he loses to Usyk.
“I think he is going to either rectify the last fight against Ngannou, which he will get paid a lot of money for and a lot of people would be interested in.
“He will train better and show up and perform. Or he might retire.”
Fury, 35, has refused to confirm the date of his undisputed title decider against Usyk, 36.
But his promoter Frank Warren has insisted it must be backdated until the new year in order to allow the WBC champ to rest.
Usyk on the other hand is adamant it must go ahead on December 23 or never as he pours the pressure on Fury before the first bell has even sounded.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
