On December 21, the two best heavyweights of the current era will renew hostilities at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14KOs) and Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24KOs) will meet for the second time this year. Boxing fans worldwide are hoping this immediate rematch can deliver the same level of excitement as their epic May fight at the same venue. On that occasion, Usyk was the victor – taking a split decision on the scorecards. The judgment (114-113 in favor of Fury; 114-113, 115-112 for Usyk) was called into question by Fury, who hails from Lancashire, England. In the immediate aftermath of the bout, Fury expressed his belief that he had done enough to win, but the record showed otherwise.
Usyk remains undefeated and seemingly impossible to intimidate. The Ukrainian southpaw, who carries the pride of his nation on his shoulders each time he enters the ring, expressed delight with his victory in May and said he would rematch Fury anytime. Seven months down the line we have arrived at that juncture.
Will the rematch have the same momentum swings as the first fight? Will we see any tactical changes from either of the protagonists? Will Fury respond positively to being beaten for the first time? Is there a danger that Usyk could be overconfident ahead of the rematch?As Usyk and Fury prepare to dance again, it’s time to put chapter two of this rivalry “In Focus.”
Quickly Recapping An Early Summer Classic
Originally scheduled for February 17, the first bout between Fury and Usyk, titled Ring of Fire, was pushed back to May 18 after Fury suffered a nasty cut in sparring on February 2, 2024. The wait was worth it as a red-hot encounter worthy of the promotional designation unfolded.
In the early running, Fury bossed proceedings. The bigger and heavier boxer used his reach to control the action and mixed some uppercuts to the body into his work. He also indulged in some showboating – perhaps this impresses some, but the view here is that Fury should cut this out completely. With a deficit on the scorecards to overcome, Usyk got to work as the fight got into its second quarter and despite still taking some shots from Fury, was able to become the dominant boxer in the second half of the contest.
The ninth round, which will live long in the memory, featured a sensational overhand left from Usyk, which had Fury out on his feet. The referee administered a standing eight count, and the fight continued. It was too much of a setback for Fury to overcome, as he was effectively knocked out on his feet. He battled in vain down the stretch, but Usyk did enough to secure victory on two of the scorecards.
The win crowned Usyk the undisputed heavyweight champion – a status he held for only a few short weeks due to the IBF removing their belt from him. Usyk may be able to beat all comers in the ring, but boxing politics and sanctioning bodies are the truly unbeatable forces in this sport. The remaining three belts Usyk took home with him after his win in May will be on the line on Saturday.
Will ‘Reignited’ Look the Same as ‘Ring of Fire?’
Having bested Fury once, it would suit Usyk if the rematch followed the same pattern as the first fight. Although Usyk was behind early, Fury didn’t press home the initial advantage he had established over the smaller, lighter fighter.
Standing 6’3 and weighing in at 223 pounds, Usyk was always going to be at a physical disadvantage against the 6’9 and 262-pound Fury. But height and weight aren’t everything, as Usyk employed excellent movement combined with fast and accurate punch delivery during the second half of the contest. Usyk also looked to be the better-conditioned fighter as the bout wore on.
Fury, after building the early lead, should have endeavoured to turn the fight untidy by holding and leaning on Usyk. This would have been the way to truly utilize his physical advantages in the ring. With rumors being reported by media outlets in the UK that Fury will come into the rematch weighing around 273 pounds – first mentioned on December 1 by boxing journalist Gareth A Davies, who was speaking on radio station talkSPORT – perhaps we will see an attempt from Fury to do more holding and leaning in this fight. That would potentially take away from the spectacle, but all Fury wants to do is win the fight. He won’t care how he manages it if he has his hand raised at the conclusion.
What Will We See From Usyk?
As noted, Usyk’s self-belief seems impossible to shake. The man who could realistically still be fighting in the cruiserweight division has never shown any signs of being intimidated by the much bigger boxers he has faced since stepping up to heavyweight in 2019.
For this reason, it is my belief that Usyk won’t be thinking about changing too much coming into the rematch. He knows he can hurt Fury with his swift, well-timed left hand. Knowing that his skills carried him to victory previously against Fury makes Usyk even more dangerous in this fight. There is no chance he will have cut corners in training camp or allowed complacency to seep into his mindset. Underneath the slightly zany personality Usyk presents in public and during promotional moments lies a humble, determined warrior who embraces the responsibility of representing his nation each time he fights.
If anything, expect an even sharper Usyk in this rematch. Speed, footwork, and stopping Fury in his tracks wins this rematch for Usyk. If Fury does bring the fight to him and Usyk lands a few early counters it could be a long night in Riyadh for the Englishman.
What Will We See From Fury?
The mindset of Fury heading into this contest will be fascinating. Only he will know, but the man who always claimed he couldn’t be beaten in a boxing ring by anyone now needs to show a positive reaction to being defeated.
If the planned weight gain is correct it is going to be boom or bust for Fury. If he can get a foothold in the fight, he must take advantage of it. His defense needs to be almost perfect so that he can walk Usyk down while blocking the punches coming his way. If weight and physicality is the game plan, he must fully commit to it for the duration. Bulking up can considerably affect a boxer’s stamina though. If miscalculated, it could lead to an exhausted Fury being stopped instead of being dominant in the contest. It is a fine line to walk.
Another question for Fury is that of his punch resistance. Although he has had periods of inactivity, Fury has been a professional boxer since 2008. Now, as he enters his 37th bout, we need to ask if the shots he has taken over the years have significantly eroded Fury’s ability to take a punch. The way he was out on his feet in the first fight would have seen him stopped on the spot by many other referees. This should be a concern to Fury fans ahead of the rematch.
Against a world-class opponent, full concentration is imperative. That’s why Fury needs to remove showboating from his repertoire during the rematch. It doesn’t serve any function – it’s not going to disrupt Usyk, and the judges don’t award points for it so why bother?Fury needs focus, full commitment to his plan, good stamina, and a return to the aggressive body attack that served him well early against Usyk in May if he is to avenge his defeat and once again become heavyweight world champion.
In Closing…
The first fight being so good means it will be hard for this rematch to hit similar heights. That being said, boxing always surprises us, which is why the second installment of Usyk vs. Fury is unmissable. It is Usyk’s fight to lose, but perhaps Fury can spring an upset and create demand for a third fight between the two excellent pugilists in 2025. The fire between Usyk and Fury is about to be reignited. Enjoy the fight!
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