Tyson Fury claims he injured Oleksandr Usyk so badly in their previous fight earlier this year that “It couldn’t be the same fighter” in their rematch on December 21.
Here’s the reality: Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) looks more like he could be the same fighter after being knocked around the ring by Usyk in the infamous ninth round, which should be the same from the referee
We don’t know what the 36-year-old “Gypsy King” Fury left behind. Fans noticed that Fury looked aged in his press conference appearance this week, sporting a lumberjack look with the beard, the hat and the scruffy look. This fight took the best out of Fury, leaving him a physical shell of his former self. Usyk looked at least 10 years younger, which is not good for Fury.
Dressed as a Hitman in the press conference, Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) revealed that he plans to finish the job by knocking out Fury on December 21 and will have completed his mission. With all the money Fury was hoping to put in an all-British showdown against Anthony Joshua in 2025, being gutted by Usyk will destroy that fight. Don’t be surprised if His Excellency chooses not to do that match after Usyk is done with him.
“I know he was hurt after the fight and he had a broken face and a broken jaw. We know he pushed himself to the limit at 37. He might not be the same fighter, and I know at 270 pounds, knocked down by a man of my size, it will not be healthy for him in his rematch,” said Tyson Fury to BoxNationHe spoke of his belief that the damage he inflicted on Oleksandr Usyk in his first fight on May 18 may leave him physically depleted for his rematch on December 21.
Usyk has previously denied suffering a broken jaw from his fight with Fury, and says this is just another example of Tyson just talking for the sake of talking and coming up with things on the fly.
Even if it was true that Usyk was physically worn out from his fight with Fury, it would still be a pure nightmare for him in the rematch just because of his technical ability and mobility. Usyk has so many facets to his game that it would be too much for the Gypsy King.
“I will win, and I have a trilogy with him again. My old friend (Anthony Joshua) was shot the other day, putting our fight dead in the water for me. After beating Usyk again, I had a trilogy with him because that’s the fight that makes the most sense,” said Fury who wanted to go straight into a trilogy with Usyk after he beats him rather than face Joshua.
