Tyson Fury will try to avenge his only career defeat when he steps into the ring against Oleksandr Usyk once again later this month.
The two battled it out in May to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis nearly twenty years ago. It was the Ukrainian that walked out the ring with all the belts having secured victory on a split decision after twelve back and forth rounds. It was the ninth that secured Usyk the win, having ‘The Gypsy King’ spinning around the ropes until the referee stepped in to administer a standing eight count.
One man with a keen eye on the rematch will be former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
After deciding against an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes his man could step in with either Fury or Usyk depending on the result of the rematch.
Speaking to IFL TV, Joshua stated he backed Usyk in the first fight and said Fury didn’t show his opponent enough respect.
“I said Usyk will win. I said that from 2023. I do think Fury’s a good fighter, but there’s levels. A cruiserweight nearly knocked Fury out. You’ve got to learn from these situations. I don’t think he underestimated him, but what he was saying about middleweights, it just goes to show you should never downplay a fighter.
You should give them the credit they deserve so you don’t go in there thinking you’re gonna bully someone and the next thing you know the tables turn in a fight. Fury maybe should give him the respect he deserves next time and he might put on a better performance.”
AJ believes it will be repeat rather than revenge come fight night.
“Me personally what I think, nah. No way. It’s not that I didn’t see enough. I think Fury’s good, he had some good moments, I just don’t think he can do it. It’s not that I don’t rate him, I just don’t think that he’s better than Usyk.”
Fury vs Usyk 2 takes place on December 21 in Saudi Arabia.
