Game-changers Fury & Usyk have defined an era - what next?

Boxing is one of the easiests sport to follow, which is why a YouTuber fighting a 58-year-old can generate such global interest.

Yet only a few can truly grasp its intricacies. Fury and Usyk are not only students of the sport, they could set the sweet science's curriculum.

Fury had his first senior amateur bout almost 20 years ago, while Usyk has been boxing since 2006.

After such long, arduous careers - the gruelling training camps, emotional and mental turmoil, damage suffered in sparring and on fight nights - they were still able to create a masterpiece.

The manner in which Fury battled substance abuse and mental health issues during a hiatus from boxing, before losing eight stone and regaining a world title, is testament to the natural ability of one of heavyweight boxing's best in-ring technicians.

Usyk is one of pugilism's finest readers - a composed fighter who can take stock of a situation, adjust his strategy mid-bout and step on the accelerator when it matters; he has done it twice in six months on the grandest stage.

All boxers should be applauded for the courage and commitment it takes to step foot in a ring, but only a prestigious few can be celebrated as game-changers.

Fury and Usyk join that short list. Their place in the hall of fame is nailed on, and the two will always share the period where they defined the era.

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