Ahead of boxing titans Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's rematch on December 21, Frank Warren, who co-promotes the Gypsy King, has suggested his client's rival took more of a beating despite claiming a victory in May, with Warren hailing the bout his "toughest fight" to date.
He noted that there were concerns about a suspected broken jaw and an implanted tooth driven into Usyk's gum.
Speaking about the unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight champion he told 'Sky Sports': "I do [think it took a toll on Usyk], in that particular fight.
"I went to both the fighters' dressing rooms afterwards. I was in Tyson's dressing room and obviously he was very disappointed, he felt he'd done enough to win the fight. It was a close fight.
"There was a lot of life in him and I went into the dressing room to congratulate Oleksandr and he knew he'd been in a tough fight… That's the toughest fight he's ever had.
"At the time they were worried he'd broken his jaw. His manager told me an implanted tooth was impacted into his gum. That was a gruelling fight for both of them. Fought at a high pace, lots of punches being thrown, it was a tough, tough fight."
Warren believes Tyson possesses the "physical attributes" and "punch power" to annihilate Usyk, noting that he has firsthand experience of Usyk's strengths and weaknesses from their shared time in the ring.
He went on: "He [Fury] knows what he's got to do. He knows better than me, you, anybody.
"He's been in the ring with him. He's seen the guy's strengths and weaknesses.
"They've shared that ring. They've shared that unbelievable going to the well, giving everything. They've both done that. They each know each other's weaknesses and can they exploit them?
"Who's going to have the wherewithal to do that and for me, my gut feeling about it and I like to think what I know about the sport, I think he will capitalise on it.
"I think Tyson's got to use his physical attributes, which are his height, his jab and he's got punch power, there's no doubt about that, so he's got to use those attributes."
Even if he doesn't pull it off, Warren insists Tyson is already a "British legend" of the bloodsport.
He concluded: "He's a British legend anyway with what he's done. He's a phenomenal fighter.
"He's been in some tough, tough gruelling fights and he's shown what he's all about as far as the ticker's concerned. This fight will be the same, because Usyk's not coming to make up the numbers, that's for sure.
"Tyson knows what he's got to do, it's can he do it. I believe he can."
