Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury run it back in Riyadh this week, and the boxing world is split as to how the fight plays out.
The two top-level heavyweights now know each other well having shared twelve hard-fought, close rounds together back in May. After hurting Fury to the point he received a standing count, Usyk took the split decision on the cards to deliver the Brit his first professional loss.
With the rematch now upon us, Fury has vowed not to take his eye off the ball – a mistake he believes cost him the first fight. Usyk has said he will again apply his calculated pressure to repeat the same result.
Pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford backed Usyk in the first fight. For the rematch, however, he absolutely believes Fury can turn it round.
“It will be more competitive.”
Elaborating, the four-weight world champion said ‘The Gypsy King’ will benefit from the experience and be able to make significant adjustments.
“I know the first time, the first fight I picked Usyk and, you know, Usyk’s a good friend of mine, Tyson’s a good friend as well but not as close as me and Usyk. I think it’s going to be an exciting fight again. I think Tyson Fury is going to go to the drawing board try to pick up where he left off. Make the adjustments earlier than he did in the first fight.
“I don’t think he got overconfident I just think Tyson went through a lot in his personal life and I just think him training, the fight being postponed, that all plays a factor. I think this fight is going to be more competitive. I just think Tyson Fury going to come in with a different game plan like he did with Deontay Wilder.”
All predictions will be put to the test this weekend as Fury attempts to snatch Usyk’s WBC, WBO and WBA Heavyweight World titles.
