Egis Klimas has been hitting the headlines regularly in recent weeks, after the postponement of that Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight blockbuster.
The unification showdown has been rescheduled for May 18 after a planned February 17 date was cancelled when Fury sustained a freak cut in sparring just over two weeks out.
The fallout from that news was seismic, with Usyk’s manager Klimas and Fury engaging in a furious war of words about whether the Englishman really wants the fight or not.
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It wasn’t the first time Klimas had questioned whether Fury is still the force he once was. He remains WBC and lineal heavyweight champion but they say you are only as good as your last fight. ‘The Gypsy King’ struggled to outpoint pro boxing novice Francis Ngannou in October.
Usyk and Klimas both spoke to Ring Magazine in an exclusive interview, with the pair going in depth about their thoughts on the Fury showdown – and what it means for Oleksandr’s legacy.
Klimas revealed his thoughts on where Fury stands now, and why he believes the giant man from Morecambe is there for the taking.
Egis Klimas on Fury
He said: “Usyk is always prepared mentally, he takes every fight seriously. We went through a lot to get this fight made. Usyk will beat Fury. I am sure it will not be easy. I would not even be surprised if he stops Fury.
“The reason I say that is Usyk will wear down Fury and stop him. Fury has made a lot of money. He is not hungry anymore. Like Oscar De La Hoya used to say. ‘If you have $80 million in your bank account and you are sleeping in silk sheets, it is not easy to get up at 5 in the morning to run.’ Usyk is fighting for legacy.
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“Money will come. He is fighting for his country.”
While Usyk is now one of the biggest names in boxing, Klimas is also cemented as one of the sport’s key power brokers. When esteemed fight publication Boxing News revealed its Power list of the sport’s most 50 influential people last week, he came in at #8.
