David Haye picks who he thinks will win Tyson Fury's heavyweight showdown vs Oleksandr Usyk... as he reveals one fighter the victor should face next, to become the 'mythical baddest man on the planet'

David Haye has revealed who he thinks will win Saturday's colossal heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, claiming that the fight could be won on points and that there could also be 'a lot of controversy'. 

The wait to decide who will become the undisputed heavyweight champion is nearly over, with Fury and Usyk finally set to meet in the ring on Saturday night after the pair have been circling each other for several years. 

The fight was postponed earlier in 2024 after Fury appeared to suffer a cut to his eye during a sparring session, only adding to the tension and excitement around the fight. 

Haye is one former professional who has been on tenterhooks waiting for this fight to take place, and delivered his verdict to Mail Sport on who he thinks will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis accomplished the feat nearly 20 years ago.  

'My prediction, I think, is going to be a very highly skilled, technical fight,' the former British fighter told Mail Sport. 'I think both fighters are going to have a great game plan. I think Tyson Fury is going to try to implement his superior height, weight and reach. I think it's going to be very exciting. 

'I think there's going to be a lot of controversy. I think it's going to go to points. I think I see a controversial majority draw. I think two judges are going to have it as a draw and one judge is going to have it for Usyk. I think Usyk is going to, in my opinion, win the fight, but I think it's going to be a draw.

'But with someone as big as Tyson Fury, it takes one shot to really do damage. He's not known to have one-punch knockout power but when you're that big and you're rotating through the shots, particularly if he gets desperate at some stage, you know he could either get countered or he could land a big shot. But I'm excited.'

He added: 'Nobody wants a draw! We want a clear considered victory. But if I was to bet my last £5 - it would be on a draw. You'd get great odds. But I think a majority draw.'

While Fury and Usyk are contracted for a second fight, which has been scheduled for later in 2024, speculation is already mounting over who the winner could fight next. 

While Saturday's victor will be crowned the undisputed champion, Haye believes that whoever emerges victorious will not be the best fighter of the current era until they conquer one last opponent, Anthony Joshua. 

When asked whether Fury becomes the best in the game, he said: 'He becomes the undisputed champion. Does he become the baddest man on the planet? I thought AJ [Anthony Joshua] beating [Francis] Ngannou the way he did makes him the baddest man on the planet.  

'Although he doesn't have any belts, I'd like then to see the undisputed champion fight Ngannou, who was the baddest man, who then I believe defended that title against Tyson Fury - but had it ripped off of him by AJ [Anthony Joshua].

'So I then want AJ to fight Tyson Fury for the mythical baddest man on the planet and the undisputed titles. That's when I can sit back and say this guy [the winner] in this era is the No 1.'

Much talk in the run-up to this fight has revolved around Fury's nutrition and how much weight he has lost since his victory against Francis Ngannou in October 2023. 

Many, including his strength and conditioning coach, Kristian Blacklock, have claimed that the British fighter is in the 'shape of his life' and was 'stronger and leaner' than ever before. 

Others have raised concerns over whether the 35-year-old's body transformation will hamper the amount of power he can produce against Usyk, but Haye has dismissed those claims, lauding the Manchester-born fighter as a 'real heavyweight'. 

'I don't think his [Fury's] weight will have any impact on his punch power,' the former heavyweight champion said. 'He's a big man, naturally a big man. He's a real heavyweight. 

'If you see how, you know, he knocked out Dillian Whyte - he just turned through the shot. He's such a big, humongous man, you know, whether he weighs 20 stone or 18 stone, or 17 and a half stone, he's going to knock you out if he puts all of his weight behind it.'

There have also been plenty of mind games and controversial incidents ahead of Saturday evening's fight, with John Fury, Tyson's father, being at the heart of a controversial incident earlier this week. 

Shocking footage showed Fury Snr being left with a bloodied face, after allegedly headbutting a member of Usyk's team. 

Videos have emerged online of tensions rising around the fight venue, with Usyk and Fury's camps chanting the names of both fighters at each other.

Haye, meanwhile, believes Usyk is far too experienced to let Fury's team get into his head. 

'Usyk's too seasoned. He's been here, he's seen it, he's done it. He's won all the belts,' the former unified cruiserweight champion said. 'He's had way more world title fights than what Tyson Fury has had and he's never lost. 

'He's always very, very good. Very classy and conducts himself well outside of the ring and I just see Usyk's skill and his footwork, more importantly, being able to negate a lot of the stuff that Tyson Fury can do. 

'But it's the best fight that we could possibly ask for - going back many years. Make sure you tune in, TNT Sports Box Office - it's going down.'

While Fury possesses an edge in terms of size over Usyk, Haye also believes that it is important that the Ukrainian does not get struck by too many unnecessary punches.

'It's imperative that Usyk doesn't get hit with unnecessary punches. Being the smaller man, you can't afford to get your energy bar reduced by the bigger man.

'The way I see it, you've got an energy bar - it gets lower and lower every time you take a shot, like a computer game. Usyk has become undisputed cruiserweight champion and he's won all the belts - bar the WBC at heavyweight - and he's done that by punch evasion and by having a style which makes it very difficult for his opponents to land clean, concussive punches on him.' 

Watch Fury v Usyk, 'Ring of Fire' live from Riyadh on TNT Sports Box Office on Saturday 18 May. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice