Fury Vs Usyk 2 – The Inevitable Rematch, Who Comes Out On Top?
On the 21st of December, the boxing world is set to witness the monumental rematch between the two biggest names in the sport. Tyson “The Gyspy King” Fury and Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk, are set to enter the ring together again 7 months after Usyk was seen as the winner by split decision and he became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis in 1999 in the four-belt era. However, since the last bout Usyk has vacated the IBF title, so this will not be for the undisputed championship but for the unified championship.
Tyson Fury
Age: 36
Height/Reach: 6ft 9 / 85”
Record: 35-1-1 (24 KOs)
Last Fight: Split decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk
The Gyspy King is known in the ring for his stature, resilience and unorthodox style, this time out against Usyk, he has promised to deliver a different approach to the fight. Last time out, it was clear that Fury struggled with the speed and precision of Usyk, where he was notably hurt in the ninth round.
Fury has vowed to come back with more focus and aggression and even issued a chilling threat to Usyk of “pain, hurt and damage”. His team is emphasising in a smarter training strategy to counter the superior boxing technique of Usyk.
Oleksandr Usyk
Age: 37
Height/Reach: 6ft 3 / 78”
Record: 22-0-0 (14 KOs)
Last fight: Split decision victory over Tyson Fury
The Cat is an exceptional boxer with an Olympic gold medal background and a mastery of both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. Usyk showed in the first fight that he could outbox through skill, speed and ring intelligence despite the Brit towering over him. The Ukrainian's ability to adapt, his footwork and his prowess to capitalise on Fury’s mistakes led to his victory and he will be aiming to replicate that, however, he must tread with caution with Fury expected to come out with a lot more aggression.
Fight Outlook
Size vs. Skill – Fury’s height and reach advantage were less than impactful in the first fight, but as he wants to show more aggression, the height and weight difference between the two could be crucial. Fury but he has to be a wary of how smart Usyk’s movement is and his counter-punching that could completely neutralise him.
Physical and Mental Recovery – There is no doubt that Fury has shown willpower and getting back from the brink as he displayed in Fury vs. Wilder I to come back and clinch a draw. However, from the last fight, there are some areas where he needs to improve, such as his vulnerability to body shots and his late-round fatigue as Usyk will have him running around the ring for the whole fight.
Tactical Adjustments - The main watch will be how Fury adjusts, expect the Brit to be less showy and provocative, but instead focus on cutting off the ring space and constantly applying pressure to Usyk. While Usyk will be looking to stay out of reach, use angles and exploit any openings that Fury might leave.
This rematch could be one for the ages and promises to be a clash of styles, where strategy, endurance, and mental fortitude could determine who walks away as champion. Given the stakes and narrative of redemption versus reaffirmation, this bout is not only about titles, but about the legacy of the heavyweight division.