Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch believes a showdown fight against Oleksandr Usyk is vital for Tyson Fury to cement his boxing legacy.
Fury is the WBC heavyweight champion and earlier in the year he had appeared to be set for an undisputed clash with the unified Ukrainian champion, but talks collapsed with both fighters blaming the other.
Despite that, both of them continue to acknowledge that an undisputed bout could eventually be made, but Fury instead continues to be linked with less high-profile opponents, most recently Martin Bakole.
Speaking to William Hill, Froch said: “I can’t give him a massive legacy.
“He’s fought Deontay Wilder three times, and he nearly got done in the first one which was a draw. He nearly got done again in the second, and it was three great fights against a guy who is not a massive heavyweight. He’s a massive puncher but because he’s not that big and heavy, Tyson Fury can keep him out of the way, lean on him and just control the fight, so it’s quite easy for Fury to do what he does because he’s so big. If he fights Usyk and he fights Joshua and he makes mincemeat of them then he’ll be the best of a generation.
“If Tyson Fury really wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk then why is he demanding a 70/30 split, and then when it gets agreed turning round and saying that the fight isn’t happening? His bluff was called, and he realised he couldn’t get ready in six weeks, when he was trying to look like the bigger man.
“I do think Tyson Fury wants to fight Usyk. He’s very confident and he’s got every reason to believe that he can beat Usyk, because he’s twice the size of him and he’s a great fighter. He’s an unbelievable heavyweight.”