Heavyweight stars Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to go head-to-head for a second time – and fans have decided there will only be one winner
Heavyweight stars Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to go head-to-head for a second time – and fans have decided there will only be one winner Heavyweight stars Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to go head-to-head for a second time – and fans have decided there will only be one winner
Boxing fans have backed Oleksandr Usyk to put the rivalry with Tyson Fury to bed and go 2-0 up in the series ahead of their heavyweight dust-up.
The pair first went toe-to-toe back in May this year. In what was a mouthwatering back-and-forth encounter, the Ukrainian went on to defeat the ‘Gypsy King’ via split decision. Following the win, the 37-year-old became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis back in 1999.
Usyk is the clear favourite to get his hand raised yet again, that said, there are still a fair few who believe Fury has what it takes to dethrone the Ukrainian sensation. And our readers have voted in their thousands with regard the result of the fight – and there is a clear winner.
Fifty-three per cent of voters believe Usyk’s ability will just be too much for the ‘Gypsy King’, while 45 per cent believe the Brit will level the series in Saudi Arabia. Given how close the fight will no doubt be, remarkably, only two per cent of voters believe it’ll end in a draw.
While the masses have backed the 37-year-old undefeated Ukrainian to reign supreme, Fury will no doubt have something to say about that. During an intense staredown on Thursday night, the Brit was eager to issue a chilling warning to his upcoming opponent.
“He’s getting f***ed, I was 50 per cent last time, you were the best you’ve ever been and you still couldn’t do s***,” he said. “You couldn’t do f*** all. Don’t you be afraid you rabbit looking f***er. I won’t leave you alone. You ugly little b******. I’m butchering you. You are going to wake up in the hospital you clown. You got a gift decision you clown. I’m the man, I’m the f***ing champion. You ugly rat b******. You are a rat. I’ll beat you seven days a week.”
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year
As for Usyk, the Ukrainian will once again be hoping to put on a show. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I feel good. It continues, the 13th round because I feel like this. Tyson Fury too had a chance in the sixth round, maybe the seventh round, maybe 12th, 11th, first, second. But Tyson did not do it. It’s just talk. Tyson said I had the chance. Yeah, no problem. We have a second fight, I’ll try.”
Amid talks of a trilogy, Usyk has confirmed he plans to try his luck at cruiserweight again should he beat Fury for a second time. “I win again a second fight, I’ll try cruiserweight again,” he said. “I’ll try.” Defeat on Saturday night would mean the Ukrainian will have to stick around at heavyweight a little longer after Fury’s promoter Frank Warren revealed a third fight between the two giants is ‘contracted.’ When asked whether a trilogy bout between Fury and Usyk ‘trumps’ potential fights with Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, Warren told Boxing News: “Oh it does because it’s contracted. And whatever happens, that would be the case if Tyson wins… providing nobody retires.”
Mirror – Sport
