Carl Froch has voiced his concern over Tyson Fury‘s significant weight loss ahead of the Gypsy King’s showpiece clash with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18.

The Briton is due to meet his Ukrainian opponent at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh next week as they vye to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

Fury and Uysk were initially due to do battle in February of this year, but their long-awaited clash was postponed after the former sustained a nasty injury in training.

The additional preparation time appears to have only stoked Fury’s desire to come out on top, with the fighter repeatedly wowing fans with his body transformation in the build-up to the clash.

But former boxer Froch suggested that Fury’s obvious change in physique could come with a downside – even though the 35-year-old has likely been consuming around 6,000 calories a day.

Tyson Fury's new-look slimmed-down physique has impressed some fans - but not all of them
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Tyson Fury’s new-look slimmed-down physique has impressed some fans – but not all of them

Former boxer Carl Froch (pictured) has expressed concern over how Fury will grapple with Oleksandr Usyk

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Former boxer Carl Froch (pictured) has expressed concern over how Fury will grapple with Oleksandr Usyk

Fury weighed in at a career-heaviest 277.7lbs to fight Francis Ngannou in October 2023
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Fury weighed in at a career-heaviest 277.7lbs to fight Francis Ngannou in October 2023

‘I’m not sure if (Fury coming in light) is a good thing to be honest,’ Froch told Fastest Payout Online Casino. ‘That weight allowed him to bully Deontay Wilder, lean on him, tie him up and just have his own way.

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Tyson Fury’s remarkable body transformation as he hits the gym for £100m Oleksandr Usyk fight… looking in his best shape EVER after he struggled last time out

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‘When it gets on top for Fury, when he’s under pressure, he’s able to sit back, get hold of the back of his opponent’s neck, lean on him and use his body weight to get himself out of trouble.

‘If he’s losing weight and he’s slimmer, he could struggle. I’d like to see him perform at a slimmer weight.’

Froch went on to state that he wondered if a nutritionist should intervene to ensure that Fury doesn’t slim down past the necessary point.

‘Fury’s upped the training, he’s upped the diet a bit more,’ the ex-super middleweight added. ‘He’s eating more healthily and the weight’s just falling off.

‘His body and the way it looks is a product of his training camp.

‘So maybe the nutritionist needs to step in and say, right, get some more red meat down here. Get some more protein down you and do some weight resistance exercises.

‘I think he needs the muscle on now though. He needs to be bulking up muscle.’

Preparations to face off with the Ukrainian heavyweight have been extended due to the bout's lengthy postponement
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Preparations to face off with the Ukrainian heavyweight have been extended due to the bout's lengthy postponement
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Preparations to face off with the Ukrainian heavyweight have been extended due to the bout’s lengthy postponement

The Gypsy King nearly suffered against Ngannou but is expected to be fighting fit in Riyadh

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The Gypsy King nearly suffered against Ngannou but is expected to be fighting fit in Riyadh

Fury – who weighed in above his last opponent Francis Ngannou in October 2023 at a career-heaviest 277.7lbs – has previously stated that he believes his size gives him an additional advantage in the ring.

‘I actually embrace being fat because my love handles separate me from the rest of the world, ever in history. There’s never been anyone like me and there never will be,’ the fighter told Mail Sport in October.

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Tyson Fury shares a glimpse of his chicken, rice and salad lunch, as his nutritionist reveals details of the diet which has helped him to his remarkable body transformation

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‘That’s what makes me so tough and that’s what makes me, me. If you said to me, “Right Tyson, we will give you the opportunity to get rid of the fat on you and we will give you a full six pack,” I wouldn’t take it because that’s not me.

‘I am fat now, I was fat as a baby and I will be fat on my death bed. We’re all fat. Hughie is fat, Shane’s fat, my dad’s fat and even my mum’s fat. I hope she’s not watching this. But, we’re a fat family.

‘He trains every day, my brother Hughie, like unbelievable. He’ll run, train, box. I am the same. Two-three times a day, in or out of camp but I’ve always been fat. Even when I got down to 17stone, like this, I still had love handles. It’s my trademark for sure.’

Froch agreed, adding: ‘One of the main advantages Fury has over Usyk is his size.’

‘And if he’s going to bring that size down, he then has to rely on his speed and his movement and his boxing ability.

Tyson Fury explains why he’d never want to lose his love handles!

The 35-year-old looked laser-focused in a recent training video shared to Instagram Stories
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The 35-year-old looked laser-focused in a recent training video shared to Instagram Stories
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The 35-year-old looked laser-focused in a recent training video shared to Instagram Stories

‘His punch output’s not as big as it was. He doesn’t throw as many feints.

‘He’s not as light on his feet and he gets hit on the chin. In the last couple of years, he’s been hit more than he’s ever been hit.’

Whether Fury’s new physique will help or hinder him in Saudi Arabia, the boxer looked laser-focused in training footage, as he stepped up preparations for the undisputed heavyweight showdown.

The winner of the highly-anticipated bout will also unify the heavyweight division for the first time since March 1999, when Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield.