SugarHill Steward, trainer of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, says the unbeaten boxer could certainly be ready for a potential fight date of April 29 – but he’ll have to train extra hard.
Fury’s handlers are still in talks for an undisputed showdown with WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The two sides have been negotiating for weeks, but there are still details that have to be worked out.
With each passing day, the April date becomes less likely to come off as planned.
The World Boxing Association has now ordered both sides to present signed contracts by April 1, or they will order Usyk to make a mandatory defense against WAB ‘regular’ champion Daneil Dubois.
Even Steward admits the timeline will be rough, but also feels Fury is capable of getting ready in time.
“If that’s what they agree on and that’s what he wants to do, if he feels he can get ready for April 29 and fight Usyk then he’ll just have to train extra hard for that,” Steward told Sky Sports. “It’s a short bit of time but I believe Tyson has the ability and the physical attributes to handle the situation.”
Fury has indicated that his strategy will be to knock Usyk out.
Steward confirms that a knockout win will be their overall goal in the fight.
“Absolutely. The gameplan is always a knockout. It’s setting it up, using certain punches, certain movements to make your opponent move into that knockout punch. It’s the same thing that I’ve been taught from Emanuel, him teaching me the sweet science of boxing,” Steward said.
“It’s all about the knockout and setting it up. Good jabs set up knockouts. Every fight is adjustments and watching what your opponent does and making adjustments. It’s not just one gameplan ever. It’s seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13. We’re only doing 12 rounds but you’ve got an extra one in the bag always.”