Roy Jones Jr. believes that Oleksandr Usyk is invulnerable to Tyson Fury’s mind games.
Usyk and Fury fight on Saturday night on DAZN , and the winner will become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the four-belt era.
Jones Jr. is wary on Usyk’s behalf given the size difference he must overcome.
“It’s a very daunting task, but [Usyk] started heavy [as a cruiserweight]. I started at junior middleweight. There’s a difference,” Jones told BoxingScene . “It’s not impossible for him to do, but Tyson Fury is [bigger] and [6-foot-9].”
However, Jones sees some hope for the Ukrainian.
He added: “I like Usyk because he’s dangerous, he’s creative and he’s never been beaten.
“It’s to Usyk’s advantage that Tyson Fury didn’t look so good last time out [when he was knocked down by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou].
“That gives Usyk more confidence now that Usyk has seen Fury can be beaten if you do the right things. However, when it’s a small man against a big man, the big man usually wins. It all depends on how bad Usyk wants it. It looks like he’s put on the right weight, the right muscle, and he’s the right size, so now we’ll see what happens.
“Usyk has to get beyond Tyson Fury’s jab because [of] Fury’s [height advantage] and he has a helluva jab. If Usyk can get beyond it, how much damage can he inflict? Because if he can’t get past the jab, he can’t win the fight. Once he does, and he can inflict damage, then we’ve got a fight. If he can’t, then it’s a long night for him.”
Lastly, Jones suggested there may be some advantage for Usyk given his limited English - that he will not be intimidated by Fury’s words.
“I don’t think [mind games] work with Usyk because he doesn’t understand none of it,” Jones concluded.
Live on DAZN: Fury vs. Usyk on May 18. Click here for details .