Home Sport Tyson Fury names two key changes he’s making to beat Oleksandr Usyk in rematch

Tyson Fury names two key changes he’s making to beat Oleksandr Usyk in rematch

Sport — 30/11/2024 · 0 Comment

Tyson Fury has named two important changes he can make to beat Oleksandr Usyk in the pair’s rematch.

Fury will look to avenge his first-ever professional boxing defeat when he faces Usyk for the second time in Saudi Arabia this Christmas.

3Fury has the chance to win his belts backCredit: GETTY

‘The Gypsy King’ missed out on the opportunity to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 when he lost in his historic meeting with the Ukrainian by split-decision.

Usyk dropped Fury in the ninth round en route to victory as the latter stumbled all over the ring in both men’s bids to unite all four belts for the first time in 25 years.

“I don’t think I can be any better than what I did,” Fury said, speaking to Sky Sports.

“Although I didn’t get the result, I thought it was a very fantastic performance against one of my best opponents.”

Fury will be the underdog in the pair’s December rematch and it will likely be tough to overturn his defeat against ‘The Cat’.

However, the 36-year-old Manchester native believes he did enough to overcome Usyk in their first bout and even had himself ahead on his own scorecard.

Many boxing fans called for the former two-time champion to make changes, especially to his corner where John Fury–his dad–joined Andy Lee and Sugar Hill Steward.

But Fury doesn’t seem to think there is much room for improvement following the first clash of titans.

“Can I be any better? Can I do any better?” he added.

3Fury and Usyk will meet again in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP

“I can be more focused, and less clowning and I think that’s enough.

“Maybe if he chucked that punch he hit me 100 times and maybe not done any damage, but you know the one time it did and that’s all she wrote really.”

Fury was asked about his corner’s advice in a face-off with Usyk on TNT Sports, after the pair met in their October press conference.

He admitted that ‘people can have their opinions’ and talk however they like, but quite frankly ‘they’re not in there doing the fighting’.

Fury’s rematch with Usyk will not be for the undisputed titles after the latter was stripped of his IBF belt once he agreed to the fight

The winner of the clash could face Daniel Dubois next after he retained the IBF title in style by knocking out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September.

3Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua is his recent outing to retain his IBF strapCredit: Getty

Former world champion Billy Joe Saunders is a friend of Fury’s and recently told talkSPORT’s Jim White and Simon Jordan that the heavyweight great has a better game plan in place now.

“Listen, I’ve been keeping a close eye and I’ve been talking to his nutritionist Greg Marriot,” he told talkSPORT’s White & Jordan.

“His weight is looking good and his sparring is going well and he’s looking good.

“I think the game plan they’ve got now for this fight after speaking with Tyson the other day makes a lot more sense.

“It makes a hell of a lot more sense to me, the game plan last time was pickey-pokey and running around.

“It was about showing off in the ring and I think he was enjoying himself a bit too much.

“He let Usyk back in it, but this time I don’t think Usyk will get back in the fight if Tyson is up in the first six rounds this time.

“Definitely not.”