Evander Holyfield believes Oleksandr Usyk will target Tyson Fury‘s eye in their undisputed title clash this weekend and recalls what it felt like to have blood running down his face during a fight.

Holyfield, often hailed as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, retired from professional boxing back in 2014 after a career that spanned nearly three decades.

Holyfield’s career was marked by numerous achievements, becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion before stepping up in weight to knock James ‘Buster’ Douglas out to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Holyfield remains the only boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes: cruiserweight and heavyweight – a feat Usyk is looking to achieve this weekend.

Holyfield believes Usyk will look to target Fury’s right eye as the Gypsy King sustained a cut during sparring that lead to this weekend’s undisputed title fight initially being postponed.

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Boxing legend Evander Holyfield (above) believes Oleksandr Usyk will target Tyson Fury’s eye during the pair’s showpiece unification fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night

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The Gypsy King (left) heads into the fight as the bookies’ favourite over the Ukrainian (right)

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But Holyfield claims Usyk has an edge over Fury, whose eye has proved a weak spot since it was savagely cut open by Otto Wallin during his fight with the Swede back in 2019 (above)

The highly-anticipated bout had been scheduled to take place in Riyadh Saudi Arabia on February 17 but was postponed until May 18 after Fury sustained an injury during camp.

Fury – who required 15 stitches after getting caught by Agron Smakici’s elbow – is confident his eye has healed despite the incident taking place on February 2 and insists it won’t be a problem on Saturday night.

Holyfield has first-hand experience when it comes to dealing with cuts on fight night as Larry Holmes opened a prior wound over his right eye during their bout in 1992.

However, Holyfield – who required 36 stitches – finished the fight and emerged victorious – with Holmes vomiting after the final bell due to total exhaustion.

Speaking about his experience dealing with a cut mid-fight and the impact it will have on this weekend’s fight, Holyfield told Mail Sport: ‘When you get cut, there is nothing quite like the feeling of your own blood. It’s warm, really warm.

‘Usually, when you get cut you’re tempted to keep touching it. But, you make it worse by touching it. The objective after getting cut is not to get it bust again or hit again.

So, you know, the fight is going to be a lot harder for you because you have to be cautious of it. It’s pretty aggravating!

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The 61-year-old has first-hand experience when it comes to dealing with cuts on fight night

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Holyfield has warned Fury to keep his hands up, as Usyk will be looking to target his weakness

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Fury looked far from convincing against Francis Ngannou in October, despite claiming the win

‘Tactically, you have to keep your hands up to make sure you are protecting that area during the rest of the fight.

‘Usyk will target that area [against Fury on Saturday night]. That’s boxing. My old thing is that I am going to make you look bad or whatever.

‘If I think that could throw you off, I am going to do it. I am gonna hit you with six points, I am going to hit you with eight points. You aren’t thinking about anything else other than not letting him get the better of you!’.

Usyk is looking to follow in Holyfield’s footsteps this weekend by becoming just the second boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes: cruiserweight and heavyweight.

Holyfield also won the heavyweight title four times, a record he shares with Muhammad Ali before retiring with a professional record of 44 wins (29 by knockout), 10 losses, and 2 draws.

His career was marked by several iconic fights and rivalries. His trilogy with Riddick Bowe stands out as one of the most thrilling in heavyweight history. The first bout in 1992 resulted in Holyfield’s first professional loss, but he reclaimed the WBA and IBF titles in their 1993 rematch, and their third fight in 1995 was another intense battle, with Bowe emerging victorious.

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The Ukrainian fighter is looking to follow in Holyfield’s footsteps this weekend by becoming just the second boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes

Tyson Fury prepares for heavyweight fight against Usyk in Riyadh

Another defining rivalry was with Mike Tyson. Their first encounter on November 9, 1996, saw Holyfield, an underdog, shock the world by defeating Tyson via an 11th-round TKO to claim the WBA heavyweight title. Their rematch on June 28, 1997, became infamous for Tyson biting Holyfield’s ear, resulting in Tyson’s disqualification.

Evander Holyfield’s retirement marked the end of an era in boxing, but his legacy endures. His remarkable achievements, thrilling fights, and the example he set both in and out of the ring continue to inspire future generations of boxers and sports enthusiasts around the world.