On Saturday night (December 21), Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will meet once more in what we all expect to be another heavyweight boxing classic.
Seven months ago in Saudi Arabia these two behemoths of the sport produced incredible skills and gripping drama to crown the sport’s first undisputed heavyweight king in 25 long years.
On that night it was Ukrainian genius Usyk (22-0) who prevailed by the closest of split decisions, after a fight which had ebbed and flowed in the most dramatic of circumstances.
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Now they will run it back on Saturday night (2300 UK, 1800 Eastern, 1500 PST), this time with Usyk’s WBC, WBA, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal world heavyweight titles all on the line. So what happens this time around?
Usyk vs Fury 2 predictions
That first meeting was a real back-and-forth-classic, and while Usyk won via split-decision thanks to coming on strong in the last four rounds, the fight was really close and so deserving of this second act in Riyadh.
Despite Fury (34-1-1) having all the physical advantages, it was Usyk who surprisingly boxed on the front foot for a lot of the fight, using educated pressure to get in range and fire away to head and body. The Ukrainian had a lot of joy with the straight left over the top. For his part, Fury was having real success in spots with that violent uppercut he loves to whip in, and he hurt Usyk to the body a few times too in those middle rounds.
Fury – who was light at 262lbs – alluded afterwards that he clowned too much in fight one, and that he just needs to get serious next time to get his revenge. The talk is he will come in heavier and try to boss the fight much the way he did in his rematch with Deontay Wilder. He has since done just that – coming in at 281lbs for the rematch, albeit fully clothed in trousers, leather jacket and baseball cap.
However, Usyk is not Wilder. He is an extraordinary fighter and a puzzle no professional fighter has been able to solve so far. A heavier Fury fighting on the front foot could theoretically bomb Usyk out if he catches him clean, but just as easily he could fail to pin Usyk down and then begin to gas due to carrying the extra timber and fighting an elusive opponent with an incredible engine.
The eyes of the world will be on Saudi this weekend, but when you strip it all back this is just two elite craftsmen fighting for the championship of each other. Both should have learned plenty from their first dance, and Fury’s corner should be less chaotic thanks to the absence of his father John. However, there is a nagging feeling here that Usyk may just have The Gypsy King’s number and he is our pick to come through again, probably on points in another high level hum-dinger.
Prediction: Oleksandr Usyk to win by Decision or Technical Decision
