Oleksandr Usyk Odds: Former cruiserweight king even-money to beat Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk has been priced up at even-money to dethrone the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury, on Saturday night and become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in a quarter of a century.

Oleksandr Usyk odds v Tyson Fury

• To Win Fight - 1/1
• By KO, TKO or Disqualification - 5/1
• By Decision or Technical Decision - 2/1
• By Majority Decision - 16/1
• By Split Decision - 17/2
• Between Rounds 7 - 12 - 8/1

Throw every accusation Oleksandr Usyk's way, and he will continue to defy logic.

He's been labelled as too small to fight at heavyweight, told that he doesn't hit hard enough to keep the big men at bay and also had to endure criticisms from many questioning whether he has a chin strong enough to take the full force of more 'bona-fide' heavyweights.

The majestic Ukrainian has answered all of those questions emphatically, which is why there's little to split both he and Tyson Fury in the betting ahead of Saturday night's mammoth undisputed heavyweight title showdown in the Middle East.

The former cruiserweight king has undertaken just five fights in the blue-ribband division since vacating his undisputed status at cruiserweight, yet here he is, on the periphery of achieving a feat that few, if any, believed he was capable of.

Yes, the 37-year-old is not big by the standards of the modern giants and he probably doesn't possess the power of some of those bigger, harder-hitting fighters in the sport's top division.

But, as history has proven, it really doesn't matter.

What Usyk lacks in build and stature, he more than makes up for with his ring craft, boxing IQ and footwork.

Make no mistake about it, he is a true generational talent, and has been priced up at 1/1 to prevail this weekend for good reason.

There are still those detractors however; those who will still point towards Usyk's struggles against Dereck Chisora and question whether his bout with Daniel Dubois should have ended in defeat (given the legitimacy of that body shot/low blow).

But irrespective of any of his perceived flaws, Usyk is without doubt a fighter cut from a different cloth than most.

Whether he's a level above the unbeaten, and self-proclaimed king of the heavyweight division, Tyson Fury, only time will tell.

Thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer to find out.

Odds were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.

Mark Mothershaw

• Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk
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