Tyson Fury warned Oleksandr Usyk that he made a mistake by not knocking him out, stating that he would become a three-time heavyweight champion.
Usyk defeated Fury to become the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. He dominated the first part of the fight while also finishing strongly at the back end. Fury’s best parts were in the middle rounds when he pushed Usyk on the back foot.
The turning point in the fight came in the ninth round. Usyk landed a big left hand, followed by numerous combinations which buckled Fury. The Gypsy King was bouncing off the ropes as Usyk had him backed up in the corner. Just when the Ukrainian was going to go for the knockout, the referee imposed a standing eight count.
READ: [WATCH] ‘I’ll Get It Like Wilder 2’ – Fury Says He Will KO Usyk
It was very controversial since it prevented Usyk from finishing the fight. There was also an argument that Fury had not walked forward quickly enough, following the count, with suggestions that the fight should have been stopped. In his post-fight comments, Fury refused to accept defeat, stating that Usyk had been given the decision due to Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The Gypsy King also called Usyk an amateur boxer after having rewatched the fight, doubling down on his belief that he had won. Fury’s brother, Shane Fury, later admitted that Usyk had won the fight. Fury’s behavior has shown that he is struggling to accept the defeat.
He was thrown out of a nightclub in Morecambe, in his hometown, after appearing drunk. While he would later post a video showing himself back in the gym, there is doubt whether Fury can mentally overcome this. But his following comments show that he is ready to give it his all, as he had eyes on avenging the loss.
“You had your shot but couldn’t finish the job! Mistake. Now you’re about to feel the wrath of a menace. Gypsy King 2024 is coming for you. December 21 is mine. Me against the world. incoming 3x heavyweight champ,” Fury said
Nevertheless, Usyk does not appear fazed. During the build-up for the first fight, the Ukrainian showed that he would not let Fury get in his head. Fury had repeatedly called him a blown-up middleweight and a rabbit. The Gypsy King even went as far as to state that he would retire from the sport if he came up short. Usyk warned Fury that he would not leave him alone, which later showed in the fight.
He pressed the action from the off, pushing the Gypsy King on the back foot, targeting the head and midsection. Fury could not keep up with the pace. While it is true that Fury slowed down, a large proportion of that was due to the pressure Usyk was exerting.
The Gypsy king will have to change his tactics, something which he did against Deontay Wilder in the second fight. Fury boxed on the front foot and eventually got the American out before the distance. But in doing so, Fury will leave himself open as Usyk is known for being an expert counterpuncher. That has left the fight in a very intriguing place.
Tyson Fury with a fresh message for Oleksandr Usyk today… pic.twitter.com/qU2iEGzxve
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 3, 2024
