Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk has all the ingredients to be one of boxing’s most thrilling heavyweight tussles in recent history, and not just because they share a good old-fashioned rivalry. fury usyk ran out the best via split decision in their first meeting back in May 2024, with Fury suffering his initial paid defeat and paving the way for a huge return bout on December 21st of that year.
In this piece, we explore the fury usyk of their rivalry as well as an in-depth look at both fighter’s tactics and motivation heading into a second marquee fight together.
Preceding the First Conflict
When Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, he did it as the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and one of the consensus best heavyweights of his era. He combined unique physical attributes — standing 6-foot-9 with the agility and skill of a much smaller heavyweight — to create perhaps the most awkward fighting style in division history.
Usyk, the small and fast guy who was technically brilliant after wiping out at cruiserweight following a great decision over Anthony Joshua on two successive occasions as he moved up to heavyweight fighter John Fury. Fury was unbeaten and Usyk held titles in three organizations (WBA, IBF, WBO), so their fight was indeed for the status of undisputed.
Their first fight was an absolute war. Fury started comfortably, tying up Usyk with his size and reach. But that speed, footwork and pinpoint punching of Usyk ended up changing the momentum down the stretch. Fury was floored in the ninth after a heavy Usyk punch as his grip loosened on proceedings.
Fury came on strong in the last round but it wasn’t enough as Usyk scored a split decision victory with scores of 115-112, 114-113 and one judge gave Fury seven rounds for a scorecard of Usyk with the WBC belt after Fury suffered his first loss, seeing him dethroned as world heavyweight champion
What motivated Fury, changes for the rematch
After his first defeat, Tyson Fury wants to win everything back. His promoter Frank Warren said Fury has taken a “must knock him out” attitude into the rematch. Warren believes Fury is now cognizant of the errors he committed in their first fight, notably not following up from several moments at the height of a war-torn seventh round—when Usyk’s legs were visibly gossamer.
One of the most significant changes Fury is likely to address is his distance and aggression. Fury’s showboating and trying to box Usyk did not go well in the first exchange Fury could look to put Usyk on the ropes and this time ensure that size advantage is used more productively in infighting while looking from less quirky power punches with early knockout intentions.
Fury’s camp also thought that Usyk took more punishment in the first fight, despite beating Joshua. Usyk “knows he’s been in a fight,” Warren said post-fight, and Fury might be able to leverage that by making the rematch even more overbearing physically for Usyk.
Usyk’s Tactics & Strategy
Usyk is a great boxer, who has always focused on the technical and adaptive part of boxing. Usyk demonstrated these abilities in his win against Fury, staying on the run throughout to give nothing but sheer frustration with leg work over fury and openings for shot combinations.
If the fight has a rematch, Usyk is probably going to do something quite similar — trying to take away Fury’s physical advantages through speed and angles. Fury may be more aggressive in the opening rounds, but Usyk will have some mental answers to smother and wear down Fury as he makes mistakes later on.
Four of the last five times Usyk went a full 12 rounds in a fight, including that first battle with Witherspoon in Chicago — where he broke some very big welts off on his opponent’s eye and upper arms from comprehensive punches by counting before piling up damage over offense, easily exhausting him regardless how bad it got for any sizeable mileage or sample length coming back out as hurt but regaining varied little himself had moments. Even though Usyk is not a knock-out artist, his precision in accumulating points could again be the difference if it goes to the judges.
High-stakes Saudi Arabia rematch
The rematch on Dec. 21, 2024 fight takes place in Saudi Arabia which increasingly becoming a mecca for marquee boxing events. This is one of the most highly-anticipated rematches in modern heavyweight history, as Fury looks for some redemption and Usyk wants to place an exclamation point on his legacy by becoming undisputed.
This is a very important fight for both fighters as they meet each other in this rematch. Another loss for Fury will open talk about his future in the sport, while victory would restore customary order and quieten those bemoaning a fighter on the decline. Not satisfied, on the other hand, who stands just one giant step away from immortality in their sport. And a second win against Fury would surely silence any remaining critics of his dominance in the heavyweight division.
What to Expect on Fight Night
With the weigh-in just a few hours away and still no hallucination of public disorder on this side, both rival camps are readying themselves for their rematch with what will be a tactical affair too close to call from all but Northern soul who nagged me mercilessly during fight week because he was sure Haskings deserved better last time. Now sporting a knockout-first mentality, Fury will almost certainly come out of the blocks quickly and look to immediately fight fire with breadbasket punches, hopefully using his size disparity to build on power advantage. Usyk will be dependent on being faster, smarter, and more experienced to get around Fury and avoid dangerous exchanges.
Both fighters have had a learning experience from their first date and this second match may be more exciting than the first fight. The stakes have never been higher, and the result of this fight will set a course for where the heavyweight can go from here.
Conclusion
The fury usyk conflict has taken another interesting turn in the world of boxing. The first fight did not disappoint, and the rematch set for February 2021 could be even more exciting. With December 21st imminent, both fighters will be leaving nothing to chance as they plot their routes toward the zenith of boxing — undisputed heavyweight supremacy.
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