Oleksandr Usyk’s split decision victory over Tyson Fury cements him as the best heavyweight in the world, meaning the Brit must accept second place.
Usyk now holds all four belts in the sport’s premier division, taking Fury’s WBC following a competitive fight that saw him hurt ‘The Gypsy King’ like no man has before.
A contractual rematch, already slated for October 12, should come next, however Fury didn’t outright confirm it would be the route he’s taking.
Former cruiserweight world champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson told Seconds Out he believes it won’t happen.
“I know there’s a rematch clause. I don’t really think that will happen. And the reason why I don’t think it’ll happen – and I’m quite sure the people around him will scream and shout ‘what’s he talking about?’ – I know a fighter’s psyche. And the things Tyson Fury said before, during and after the fight about Usyk, it’s hard to swallow, it’s hard to suffer from. Remember he’s a gap-toothed, jumped-up middleweight … So how why Tyson get his head around that? Especially when he looks at round nine. I don’t think he will. I really don’t. I think everyone else around him will because there’s a lot of money involved, but I don’t think he will.”
Nelson, who believes Fury will regret periods of showboating in the bout against a fiercely dialled-in Usyk, says the former champion may now retire.
“I think this will make Tyson seriously consider walking away from this game. He’s a wealthy man. He’s a fighting man and he believes hand on heart that he’s the best fighter in the world. He’s one of those guys that, now this has happened, it’ll be hard for him to get his head round, digest, to accept.”
Fury will sit down with his team following some rest to plan his next move. Should he pull out of the second with Usyk, a battle of Britain against Anthony Joshua remains high on the heavyweight wish list.
