Jacked up Usyk does worse against Fury. Prime Cruiserweight Usyk who can stick and move for 12 rounds on his feet is much more dangerous to Fury...because that fight is always Usyk trying to edge out a decision over the distance. Usyk with less stamina and looking to move less which he can afford to do against AJ is not suited to Fury. Usyk might still be competing at Cruiserweight if that huge money bodybuilder came onto his radar like a chicken for the slaughter. Usyk knows that heavyweights can finish him with one punch. Wilder must look absolutely useless to him but he knows one punch and that's it. 200 pound man vs 270 pound man. People still don't get it...I hope Fury is pulling the bluff just so the Saudi's try and throw silly money at him.
Fury wants to become a 3x Ring Champion Fury winning The Ring heavyweight title for the 3rd time ties him with MUHAMMAD ALI OMG
Retiring so he can come back as 3x champ yes. But UNDEFEATED 3x champ would be something. EDIT: Also aging out Usyk from the pool so he could realistically do that.
I don't think motivation plays a part. Fury has lost and gained motivation for his entire career. He is extremely bipolar. The only issue which reared its head in the Wilder fight was his elbows were knackered...that's a typical and genuine wear injury that cannot be healed and if it presents itself too heavily will force retirement. Fury having weak ankles is also another issue he's had his entire career and cutting down on roadwork has helped him there. Usyk has naff shoulders from a lifetime of boxing, pretty much all boxers have these problems. I have no doubt if Fury was in full health he'd fight again but he looked so awful in that 3rd Wilder bout. He isn't fighting Usyk on half mass and neither will Usyk fight Fury on half mass.
He just hadn't met his retirement quota for this year yet. My prediction is that he will come back and retire 2 more times before the year is over, never actually stepping into the ring.
Usyk-Joshua II is a week away and there are seemingly as many threads about Fury as there are about Rage on the Red Sea and its two principles. How many times has he defied your expectations, Rob? Fury is bigger than any title the WBC or the Comic Book of Boxing could bestow upon him. World's Heavyweight Champeen, the man who beat the man, 'til defeated in the ring. Usyk will get his chance after finishing his job on Joshua.
