In just a few months, generational heavyweight greats Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will rerun their epic battle from May.
That fight was the first undisputed showdown in the division for almost 25 years with Lennox Lewis being the last man to hold all the major belts.
A close 12-round contest saw Ukrainian southpaw Usyk come out on top, narrowly, having put distance between himself and Fury on the cards with a standout ninth round that saw Fury stumble around the ring before getting a 10 count.
Usyk has since had to relinquish the IBF belt in order to take the contracted rematch rather than face his mandatory. Since the first fight, both men have said they can be better when it is run back.
Ahead of that event in Saudi Arabia, Pro Boxing Fans asked former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe who he thought would win and he sided with the former Olympic gold medalist and undisputed cruiserweight champion.
“Not Fury. I don’t think he has it no more. He doesn’t have it like he used to. Time has changed. He’s changed. He can’t take a punch like he used to. Even with myself, there was a time I was tired of it, I didn’t want to get hit no more.”
One thing that will not be changing for the rematch is Fury’s corner. Despite much criticism for the way his father John and coach Sugar Hill were giving conflicting bits of advice in the later rounds, ‘The Gypsy King’ has stated he will keep the same people in place.
