‘We all have bad nights’

Mike Tyson isn’t allowing Tyson Fury‘s most recent performance to influence the way he views his upcoming title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury, WBC heavyweight champion, is set to fight Usyk, holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, in an undisputed championship fight on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia. It’s the most significant and most challenging fight on paper for both fighters’ careers.

Many have started to doubt Fury’s chances following his close fight against a much less experienced Francis Ngannou last month. However, Tyson, who helped train Ngannou for Fury, is not letting that performance affect his perspective on Fury’s odds against Usyk.

“Hey, we definitely should (take into account the performance against Ngannou). But you have to realize he’s still a champion,” Tyson told Fight Hub TV and other media. “He made that night a great night and gave Francis the opportunity. This is just a bad night at the office for him. We all have bad nights, and listen, that was his bad night.”

Fury surprised the world, but not in a good way, last month. He was knocked down and bruised by Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion with no previous professional boxing experience. Fury narrowly won by split decision, but many felt Ngannou did enough to win.

Despite Fury’s performance, Tyson still backs him to beat Usyk, believing he will overpower the Ukrainian.

“I have to go with Fury,” Tyson said. “I think he’s the best fighter in the world, especially in the heavyweight division. Great fighters lose, great fighters look bad, but that doesn’t stop them from being great fighters.”

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie