Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury II | PPV - 21 December 2024

[Nightmare Roy]

Fury made himself look a dick with his verbals in that face off. Calling the consummate professional a c*nt and a bum lacks class. I hope he gets ironed out.

Agreed, hopefully Usyk sees him off for good but the whole Boxing establishment want Fury to win as he equals money.

[MightyWarrior]

Not seen the 10 minute stare down. I mean who the hell wants to watch that?? Come on, 2 min max.
if they wanna see how it should be done, sugar ray Wilfred Benitez. End.

Watching that clip I think Tyson just boils over with the pressure of it all - he’s facing someone who he just can’t phase. Usyk is clearly as mad as he is.
Won’t make a blind bit of difference come first bell. I’m starting to think Tyson has a better than expected chance to turn the tables here, if he keeps it together and the legs haven’t gone…

[maverick23]

My pick a couple of days ago was Fury on points. I think his preparation wasn’t great for the last fight, he switched off at times and I think he can improve more. That doesn’t take away from Usyk’s ability to figure out opponents. That’s what the masters do.

The last couple of days, it’s struck me how much older Fury looks than a year ago. Looks 5 years older to me. May be nothing though.

[tonyevs]

Fury was sweating nervously during that face off. How he couldn't contain himself verbally afterwards suggests he is rattled more so for this one - whether that is a good thing we don't yet know.

But i can't help being reminded of Liam Williams in latter part of his career - a boxer boiling with nerves but increasingly unable to hold a punch.

[1749666]

My pick a couple of days ago was Fury on points. I think his preparation wasn’t great for the last fight, he switched off at times and I think he can improve more. That doesn’t take away from Usyk’s ability to figure out opponents. That’s what the masters do.

The last couple of days, it’s struck me how much older Fury looks than a year ago. Looks 5 years older to me. May be nothing though.

it's called having a beard.

[tonyevs]

There does appear a massive drop in interest in this fight.
Hardly any coverage of the build up, and nobody really talking about it .. even here it's minimal.

[mickey1975]

There does appear a massive drop in interest in this fight.
Hardly any coverage of the build up, and nobody really talking about it .. even here it's minimal.

Do you know anyone who follows boxing? I'm being serious. Almost everyone I know is on about it. It's constantly on Sky!

[stujones]

I do hope Usyk wins, on a recent viewing I scored it 9-3 Usyk with a 10-8 round also to be added. In the “good old days” there wouldn’t be any calls really for a rematch (I mean I cannot remember calls for Tony Tyler vs Tyson 2…even though Tucker momentarily seemed to hurt Tyson). So I really hope Usyk doesn’t grow old and gets the credit he didn’t get in fight 1, cos it’s now either Fury was shafted or Usyk beat an out of sorts Fury via a razor thin decision)

[maverick23]

My pick a couple of days ago was Fury on points. I think his preparation wasn’t great for the last fight, he switched off at times and I think he can improve more. That doesn’t take away from Usyk’s ability to figure out opponents. That’s what the masters do.

The last couple of days, it’s struck me how much older Fury looks than a year ago. Looks 5 years older to me. May be nothing though.

it's called having a beard.

More so than just the beard. Facially he looks a fair bit older.

[coneye]

There does appear a massive drop in interest in this fight.
Hardly any coverage of the build up, and nobody really talking about it .. even here it's minimal.

Think you may be correct there , because i can honestly say i've not watched has much has one minuite of this build up , although the fight now its close has got my interest ,listening to the Furys in any way shape or form has not

[Ruthless-RKO]

I do hope Usyk wins, on a recent viewing I scored it 9-3 Usyk with a 10-8 round also to be added. In the “good old days” there wouldn’t be any calls really for a rematch

You're not wrong. It was a clear win for Usyk in my eyes and many.

Can't find a way to score it for Fury.

to me, it's one and done.

But it's boxing and the fact they already thinking about trilogy, makes me think that's what they will go.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Moses Itauma and Demsey McKean on what their rematch clause means, or doesn’t

This weekend’s fight between unbeaten heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma and once-beaten Demsey McKean has a rematch clause – which McKean says Itauma’s team inserted into the contract.
And the 34-year-old McKean is taking that as a confidence booster for himself, and perhaps a sign that his 19-year-old opponent may not be everything that he’s expected to be.

“It’s very interesting that maybe they don’t have this 100% faith in their fighter,” McKean said in an interview with Andi Purewal of Boxing News. “It’s not even a world title fight, and they’re opting for rematch clauses.”

Itauma (10-0, 8 KOs) is being highly touted and strongly pushed. He’s been pretty active since turning pro at the start of 2023. Itauma fought on the undercards of Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk I in May and Derek Chisora vs. Joe Joyce in July. That last appearance saw Itauma take out the long-faded former title challenger Mariusz Wach in two rounds in July.
This fight with McKean will take place this Saturday in Riyadh on the undercard of Usyk-Fury II.

McKean, 22-1 (14 KOs) is coming off a long layoff, with more than 16 months passing since his 12th-round knockout loss to Filip Hrgovic in August 2023.

Itauma, meanwhile, says he didn’t even know there was a rematch clause – and that it doesn’t matter.

“One thing I don’t like about boxing is the rematch clauses,” Itauma told Purewal. “I’m not even thinking about Demsey McKean beating me one bit. Obviously I know that it could happen, but I’m not thinking about it. [...] If I do lose to Demsey McKean, I’ll have bigger questions asking myself than the rematch.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/1 ... ship-fight

With just one day to go before Tyson Fury's world heavyweight championship clash with Oleksandr Usyk, the rival camps are locked in a dispute over a replacement official.

Fernando Barbosa had been due to be one of the three judges on fight night but he was unable to travel to Riyadh due to illness.

Two officials have been flown in to replace him but the two respective fight teams are split on which judge should be used on fight night, with promoter allegedly suggesting a coin toss should settle the issue.

It is a dispute that the commission will have to find a way to resolve.

[a force]

I do hope Usyk wins, on a recent viewing I scored it 9-3 Usyk with a 10-8 round also to be added. In the “good old days” there wouldn’t be any calls really for a rematch

You're not wrong. It was a clear win for Usyk in my eyes and many.

Can't find a way to score it for Fury.

to me, it's one and done.

But it's boxing and the fact they already thinking about trilogy, makes me think that's what they will go.

Agree. I’m seeing some terrible takes from people in the industry.

I’m seeing people make out Fury was cruising to victory until Usyk pulled some miraculous punch from nowhere in the 9th round.

Also suggestions that it was a fight of two halves & that Fury ‘dominated’ the first half of the fight. I remember loads of people including myself having Usyk winning the first 3 rounds.

What they’re telling us happened & what actually happened are worlds apart.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I do hope Usyk wins, on a recent viewing I scored it 9-3 Usyk with a 10-8 round also to be added. In the “good old days” there wouldn’t be any calls really for a rematch

You're not wrong. It was a clear win for Usyk in my eyes and many.

Can't find a way to score it for Fury.

to me, it's one and done.

But it's boxing and the fact they already thinking about trilogy, makes me think that's what they will go.

Agree. I’m seeing some terrible takes from people in the industry.

I’m seeing people make out Fury was cruising to victory until Usyk pulled some miraculous punch from nowhere in the 9th round.

Also suggestions that it was a fight of two halves & that Fury ‘dominated’ the first half of the fight. I remember loads of people including myself having Usyk winning the first 3 rounds.

What they’re telling us happened & what actually happened are worlds apart.

And then people listen to this and read articles about what “happened” and then they just go off that, without even watching the fight or watching it back themselves. Oh just because he said Fury cruised the first half. Yh that means he did

[Controversial]

I had Fury 4-2 up after 6 but had it 115-113 Usyk at the end

[stujones]

I had Fury 4-2 up after 6 but had it 115-113 Usyk at the end

I think a 3 point Usyk win is really the tightest it can be, can see at very very best. 7 rounds to 5 with a 10-8 round.

I think the widest for Usyk could be 10-2. I personally give Fury 4, 5 and 6. But the 4th wasn’t clear. Likewise my revised card I’ve given the 7th to usyk but originally gave that to Fury.

I really do struggle to give any other round to Fury, but maybe the one of the opening 3 rounds, but I really cannot see it.

[Controversial]

I had Fury 4-2 up after 6 but had it 115-113 Usyk at the end

I think a 3 point Usyk win is really the tightest it can be, can see at very very best. 7 rounds to 5 with a 10-8 round.

I think the widest for Usyk could be 10-2. I personally give Fury 4, 5 and 6. But the 4th wasn’t clear. Likewise my revised card I’ve given the 7th to usyk but originally gave that to Fury.

I really do struggle to give any other round to Fury, but maybe the one of the opening 3 rounds, but I really cannot see it.

I marked the 7th as a 10-10 round, couldn’t separate them. The 12th I gave to Fury which was the only round after the 6th I gave to Fury.

[big lennox]

There has been a debate about Tyson's beard this week. Does a beard lie that make much of a difference or is it an urban myth?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boxing legends and experts tip their winner for huge fight

Mike Tyson
The boxing legend, who lost his fight against Jake Paul last month, has respect for OIeksandr Usyk but is sticking with his sort-of namesake.

“Usyk is the best heavyweight in the world at the moment. But I’m going for Fury to beat him," he told DAZN. "Why? Because I’m a fan. Because his father gave him my name. I’m not abandoning him now.”

Roy Jones Jr
However, former multi-time champion Roy Jones Jr disagrees with 'Iron Mike'.

“Well it’s a very tough predicament for both of them," he said. "You never really can tell how things are going to shape out.

“But to me, Fury is one of the best guys at coming back and making adjustments.If he goes out there and is methodical and does everything Usyk does, he’ll beat him again."

Lennox Lewis
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is also picking Usyk to emerge as the winner.

“Well, I cannot go against Usyk. Oleksandr Usyk has proven himself time and time again, and he’s still undefeated," he told allegedly. "It really comes down to who boxes the best. Who’s smart in the ring.

“I didn’t think Tyson Fury was smart in the first fight. I think he played around a little bit too much and allowed Oleksandr Usyk to really pile up the points.

“Oleksandr Usyk is a difficult opponent. He moves all the time, he’s always throwing punches, he’s in great shape, and that’s hard to beat.”

Anthony Joshua
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua also believes the Ukrainian will reign again.

“I think it’s going to be a tough fight early on and then I feel like Usyk will edge it again, “ Joshua told Queensberry Promotions. “He’s a class operator and I feel like Usyk’s one of the best out there. That’s why I think he’ll win.”

Daniel Dubois
And Daniel Dubois, the current IBF heavyweight champion after beating Joshua in September, wants Fury to gain a measure of revenge but can’t see past Usyk.

“Something in my heart tells me Usyk will pull it off again,” he said. “As a fellow Brit I want Tyson to win, because of everything he has done in the game.

“You have to respect that. But something is telling me that Usyk is going to do it again. Usyk just has luck on his side and he has skills. He has the backing of his people and is fighting for his country.”

Amir Khan
“Good fight. I think this time Fury knows what mistakes he made in the first fight. He knows that he can’t stand in front of a strong Usyk," the former unified light-welterweight champion stated on allegedly. "Usyk still has a lot of power, and he’s felt Usyk’s power this time, knowing that Usyk has come up a weight and still holds that power.

“So, I think Fury is going to be one step ahead. Whenever Fury comes back in a rematch, he is always much better so he could probably stop Usyk towards the later rounds.”

Joseph Parker
“I think Tyson’s mindset has changed coming into this fight. I feel that if you have a different mindset, that can bring a lot of changes. I believe Tyson can beat Usyk on a points decision, but it’s a tough one. I’m siding with Tyson, but I think it’s a points decision.”

Tony Bellew
Tony Bellew has been in the ring with Usyk and is tipping his former opponent to improve his record against Fury.

“I can’t look past Usyk. He outboxes him this time and probably ends up winning on points. The first fight surprised me a little bit as Usyk went on the front foot from the first bell and he was actually fighting like he was the bigger man.

“I think that might've shocked Fury a little bit.

“Now Usyk knows he can hurt Fury and also be fine up close, he’ll be more confident here, but I still think he’ll go on the outside and box him on the back foot.

“Fury has no choice but to be more aggressive this time around, but those tactics can play into Usyk’s hands, and I think he’ll go 2-0 against Fury and do it unanimously this time.”

Derek Chisora
Meanwhile, Derek Chisora is former opponent of both Usyk and Fury but can't see a win for the latter.

“[Usyk] is still the same, bro. It’s going to be a good fight, we’re going to see a little bit of difference, but you have to understand: Tyson will come a little bit different, but Usyk will come a little bit different [as well].

“But as the scales hit right now, my money’s still edging on Usyk.”

Johnny Nelson
Former WBO world champion, now a boxing pundit for Sky Sports, Johnny Nelson sees a more focused Tyson Fury this time but has predicted a OIeksandr Usyk victory.

"This time, Tyson’s been a lot more serious," he told GIVEMESPORT. "A lot more focused. I think he’ll do a better job, but I also think Usyk will too."

Eddie Hearn
After initially picking Usyk, the boxing promoter has changed his prediction to Fury based on a "sneaky feeling".

"I expect another really, really close fight on Saturday. I'm picking Tyson Fury, for many reasons," Eddie Hearn told Matchroom Boxing. "I'm channelling my inner calm to him because obviously of the potential of what might come and the fact that we're British as well.

"But I've just got a sneaky feeling. I dunno, you just start buying into the pre-fight build up. I saw the stuff yesterday.

"I thought he looked very relaxed, Usyk talking real cocky, real, real different this time.

"I don't know if that's good or bad but I'm going Tyson Fury and I'm going Tyson Fury on points."

Usyk 7 - 4 Fury

[Ricky]

There has been a debate about Tyson's beard this week. Does a beard lie that make much of a difference or is it an urban myth?

Been debated on here plenty before I'm sure. Personally i don't think beards over a certain length should be allowed (which I believe is actually a rule anyway?). I'm not sure it makes much of a difference though, perhaps it can absorb a small amount of the force before the glove hits the chin.

[Ruthless-RKO]

There has been a debate about Tyson's beard this week. Does a beard lie that make much of a difference or is it an urban myth?

Been debated on here plenty before I'm sure. Personally i don't think beards over a certain length should be allowed (which I believe is actually a rule anyway?). I'm not sure it makes much of a difference though, perhaps it can absorb a small amount of the force before the glove hits the chin.

He usually shaves before the fight. Maybe he wants us to think he lived like a caveman for the last 3 months.

I know he had a beard in the Wilder 3rd fight.

[Coco]

Used to be really strict in the amateurs, needed to be really clean shaven,

[Controversial]

The amateurs lifted the ban on beards I seem to recall, I think it has to be under a certain length in the pros.

[stujones]

The amateurs lifted the ban on beards I seem to recall, I think it has to be under a certain length in the pros.

Danny Williams has had some big beards, not sure if that rule still applies.

I think it definitely provides some absorption.