Hasim Rahman knows what is required to cause a heavyweight upset, and he’s backing Oleksandr Usyk to create one if he eventually faces Tyson Fury.
In 2001, Rahman became the world’s best heavyweight for a short period when he stopped Lennox Lewis in five rounds before losing to the same fighter just a few months later.
Rahman would go on to enjoy further successes and although he is now retired, he’s very much an ardent observer of the sport he once thrived in.
Assessing the current leading heavyweights, Rahman is eager to see Fury and Usyk finally settle their rivalry and he’s got no issues whatsoever providing his backing to the Ukrainian.
“I think Tyson Fury’s biggest advantage is that most heavyweights are really slow, and he uses the boxing against them,” said Rahman when speaking to FightHype.
"If he goes against a boxer, like a guy like Steve Cunningham, well Usyk is in his prime in the heavyweight division and I think he can beat Tyson Fury.
“He’s going to use spurts of boxing and do that the whole 12 rounds, and I think Tyson walking around all 200 pounds, he’s going to gas out. Usyk will make him exhausted and probably knock him out."