Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk delivered a heavyweight battle for the ages culminating in the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis. Now, they’re set to run it back.
Under the lights in Riyadh, Usyk started strong before momentum switched to the Brit. A bruising ninth ending in a knockdown that gave the Ukrainian back control, and his output in the final rounds earned him victory on the cards.
The high-level bout had a rematch clause attached, and promoter Frank Warren has confirmed his charge Fury will push ahead with that plan.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, George Groves said he saw potential in ‘The Gypsy King’ to be better the second time around but that the same applies for Usyk.
“I think Fury can be better. He had those rounds – the end of the fourth, the fifth, sixth and seventh – I gave those rounds to him. I thought he was in his groove. If he was able to do that for the entirety of the fight then it’s a different fight. But Usyk will no doubt be able to change and adapt and be a better fighter for the twelve rounds he’s spent with Fury. It’s a strange one, because if they fought again, it might be a very different fight.”
Ultimately the former super-middleweight world champion backed Usyk to win a rematch, staying in line with his prediction for the original fight.
“Really, I can only see the same result. Usyk is a generational, exceptional fighter. Fury’s had his era and now it’s the Usyk era. And this might be the end of it. He might say ‘I’ve completed boxing’ and then retire, who knows. But I think if they fought again Usyk will make the changes and be better again and beat Fury again. It doesn’t mean it’s the same fight, but I think it’s the same outcome.”
The second instalment is slated for October, although that may change depending on the recovery required for each man. Unfortunately for Fury, he won’t get the chance to become undisputed given the IBF’s ruling to strip Usyk in the coming weeks.
