By Tyson Fury’s trainer, SugarHill Steward, has a bold prediction: Fury will knock down Oleksandr Usyk with a jab in the first round of their much-anticipated undisputed heavyweight championship fight. This Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office, Fury and Usyk will face off in a historic clash.
Steward, drawing on the legendary Kronk Gym legacy established by his uncle, Emanuel Steward, believes Fury will deliver an unexpected blow early in the fight. “Jab, and then a feint and a jab, boom!” Steward explained to Sky Sports, emphasizing Fury’s potential to land a decisive early strike.
Emanuel Steward, who guided Lennox Lewis to become the last undisputed heavyweight champion and led Wladimir Klitschko to dominate the division, had foreseen Fury’s potential. In 2012, he told Sky Sports that Fury had the makings of a dominant heavyweight superstar, much like Lewis and Klitschko. Emanuel praised Fury’s coordination, charisma, and showmanship, predicting that he would become a strong force in heavyweight boxing.
Fury, who trained at the famous Detroit gym early in his career, brought in SugarHill Steward as his main trainer before his second fight with Deontay Wilder in 2020. SugarHill instilled the Kronk philosophy in Fury: aim for the knockout and prioritize offensive aggression. This approach paid off as Fury stopped Wilder in their second and third fights.
SugarHill reflected on the Kronk legacy and his uncle’s influence, emphasizing the importance of fundamental boxing techniques. “It’s the basic fundamentals that nobody teaches,” he said. “The proper fundamentals of boxing to take care of yourself.” He focuses on teaching fighters how to hit and not be hit, ensuring they are well-prepared and able to protect themselves in the ring.
According to SugarHill, footwork will be crucial in the Fury-Usyk fight. He believes that the fighters’ footwork will determine the outcome of the contest. “I believe that’s going to tell the fight, the footwork,” he said. “If you’ve ever seen me train I don’t look at the fighter, I look at the feet, the feet tell me everything.”
Fury is determined to uphold the Kronk way by seeking out and defeating the best opponents. Steward is confident in Fury’s ability to overcome Usyk, but he acknowledges the challenge Usyk presents. “I never underestimate Usyk. I believe Tyson Fury will kick his a**. But I never underestimate him because if you don’t think highly of Usyk then you’ll get your a** kicked,” he said.
For both Fury and his trainer, taking on the best is essential. “Tyson wants the best,” SugarHill explained. “How do you know who you really are? We all want to know who we really are. We want to get challenged. The challenge is what brings us up to these moments where we are now.”
As Fury prepares to follow the Kronk way against Usyk, the world will be watching to see if he can fulfill SugarHill’s prophecy and continue the legacy of heavyweight champions from the famous Detroit gym.
