The winner of the pair’s showdown will become undisputed heavyweight champCredit: EPA

Brit Dave Allen (right) has given The Gypsy King some pointers on how to beat the Ukrainian

A staggering 21 men have tried and failed to beat the Ukranian, who reigned supreme at cruiserweight.

None of Usyk’s opponents, however, have boasted the physical attributes of Fury, which Dave Allen believes he should use along with the tactics he deployed in his 2015 win over Wladimir Klitschko to have his hand raised.

Allen told BBTV Boxing: “If I was training Tyson Fury, I would go about it with the same tactics he used in the Klitschko fight, from experience of sparring both.

“Lots will disagree with me, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to go marching onto Oleksandr Usyk.”

Allen reckons the speed and craftiness of Usyk could see Fury floored if he the burly Brit reckons he can bulldoze his way to victory.

He said: “Tyson’s been down the last couple of fights – you don’t want to walk on to a man with that ability and that speed.

“Start cautiously, lots of trickery, and if Usyk slows down then that size advantage in the aspect of bullying can come into play.”

Allen knows a thing or two about Usyk’s speed and power having previously sparred with the Olympic gold medallist, who stung him so badly during a spar that he had to stop the session.

And he believes Fury could benefit by adopting a feint-heavy approach in the Riyadh rumble.

Allen said: “I spent a lot of the rounds trying to put pressure on him, bully him – it didn’t work.

“He’s a master at [dealing with that.] People have been doing that for years with him.

“I think you’ve got to frustrate him. Lots of feints, lots of movements, you’ve got to antagonise him.

“He’s not physically the strongest. He’s not the biggest puncher. This [his head] is where he wins the fights. And I believe Tyson is the only man capable of beating him at his own game.”

WBC heavyweight king Fury knows the size of the task on his hands next month but is confident of delivering an emphatic stoppage victory.

He said: “It’s going to one of the fights for the ages.

“I believe we are both destined to be here and to be in this big fight in Saudi Arabia, and there’s only one winner, and I am destined to become the undisputed champion.

“More than that, I am destined to cement my legacy as the No. 1 fighter in this era.

“To do that I have to beat this little man and that’s it, simple as.

“Easier said than done I understand, he’s a tricky man, good boxer, slick.

“But I have seen many people like him before and when they fight the big men they struggle.

“He’s going to struggle on February 17 and he’s going to lose, I will break him for sure.”

Tyson Fury believes he’ll stop Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY