Shokran Parwani, the Germany-based heavyweight has been brought in for such a reason. Parwani said of the bout: “I have a little bit of the same style. I work more with my feet, I’m a slick guy with a lot of movement.
“Usyk is also a slick guy, he isn’t a puncher. He doesn’t have power. In rounds nine, 10 or 11? He won’t have the power to fight, and AJ will break him down.”
Both Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom team and Fury’s promoters at Top Rank will be keeping a close eye on each other’s events. If both Brits manage to come through the tests and win, they will be able to demand a considerably bigger purse for the eventual unification contest.
Fury takes on Wilder in Las Vegas on October 9.