Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will collide once again in the desert for the second instalment of their rivalry this Saturday, December 21st, where the WBA, WBO and WBC heavyweight belts will be up for grabs.
The duo, largely believed by many to be the be the best two heavyweights of their generation, first met seven months ago, where Usyk claimed a historic victory to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years. The Ukrainian great will now aim to cement his status as the best against the ‘Gypsy King’, who is out for revenge, but will be the underdog here. Here are the betting odds and our predictions ahead of this huge rematch.
- Usyk favourite to win at 4/5
- Fury priced at 6/5 to bring titles back to Britain
- Draw priced at 16/1
*Odds courtesy of Betfred
Usyk vs Fury 2 Tale of the Tape
| Fury | Usyk |
|---|---|
| Nation: Great Britain | Nation: Ukraine |
| Weight: Heavy | Weight: Heavy |
| Record: 34-1-1 | Record: 22-0 |
| Height/Reach: 2.09/85 | Height/Reach: 1.90/78 |
| Odds: 7/2 | Odds: 15/8 |
Tyson Fury is going into unchartered territory here, entering a fight on the back of a defeat for the first time in his career, and it will be fascinating to see his approach. The fact this bout will be in the same location against the same opposition adds another level of intrigue as we wonder what the ‘Gypsy King’ will do differently.
The former unified champion still has an outstanding record (34-1-1) and before the Usyk fight the only time he hadn’t tasted victory was when he remarkably climbed up off the canvas to draw with Deontay Wilder back in 2018. Fury is no stranger to Saudi Arabia, returning to the Kingdom for his third successive fight.
Usyk will be heading to Saudi hoping for a repeat of the first fight. The legendary former undisputed cruiserweight champion is on a 22-fight win streak and has already cemented himself in the annuls of boxing history, no matter what happens in this fight.
Usyk has relinquished the IBF belt, so he no longer holds the title of undisputed champion. However, that will not affect his motivation as he looks to remain the top dog of this division.
Fight Odds
Here are the odds for this highly anticipated rematch.
| Method of Victory | Fury | Usyk |
|---|---|---|
| Decision | 7/2 | 15/8 |
| KO/TKO/Tech. Decision | 3/1 | 11/4 |
| Draw | 16/1 | 16/1 |
What to look out for
The first fight was an excellent clash, with both men going right until the final bell, and I think we could be in for something similar this time around. Both men are entering the ring for the firs time since their original meeting, so Usyk will be feeling extremely confident he can repeat his success. However, Fury remains an awkward opponent, and will of course still have the size and weight advantage.
Can Fury use his Power to better effect this time?
Tyson Fury is a very big human being and will hold big physical advantages over Usyk once again. He couldn’t force his physical win over Usyk in the first fight, but he will hope to shake up the champion from the first round in this one. Usyk outworked and outpunched the British man seven months ago, and Fury cannot let that happen again. However, if he can improve his defensive work and counter well, his power could tell.
Can Usyk keep Fury guessing?
Usyk was as tricky and elusive as we all expected in the first fight. As some pundits said, he used his energy and brain to get the better of Fury over 12 intriguing rounds. Usyk was just too quick, his reflexes and footwork proving to be too good for the bigger man. I don’t think Usyk will be coming in with anything too different this time. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Fury vs Usyk 2 – Our Prediction
Fury has said during fight week that sparring has been much better this time, and that he should have postponed their first bout due to a lack of preparation. That might be true, or it could just be the usual stuff fighters come out with to excuse a defeat. One thing is for sure, Fury has to impose his will early and not let Usyk settle.
With that being said, I think this will be a case of repeat and not revenge. I think Usyk will remain too quick and sharp for Fury, and will come away with the decision.
