Tag

Tyson Fury

Browsing

An avenue might have opened up to allow Anthony Joshua a shot at a world title, without the former champion needing to face Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, failed to take the IBF title from Dubois in September, losing to his fellow Briton by knockout at Wembley Stadium.

“AJ”, 35, has been linked to a rematch with Dubois, 27, but the latter seems set for a title defence against Joseph Parker in February. Meanwhile, Fury and Usyk will clash for the unified belts on 21 December – seven months after Usyk outpointed the “Gypsy King”.

How to watch Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: Date, time, fight card & more  info | Goal.com Nigeria

JUST IN: Jake Paul immediately deletes bold claim about Tommy Fury boxing rematch

Usyk became undisputed champion with his win in May, but he soon vacated the IBF belt, meaning interim champion Dubois was elevated.

The Ukrainian will defend the remaining major titles against Fury, including the WBC gold, yet the organisation has agreed to sanction an interim title fight between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel. And Joshua could challenge the winner of that bout, according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.

Sulaiman told Sky Sports on Monday (2 December): “The WBC has received a formal request to sanction such a fight for the interim title, and the WBC will accept to sanction it.

“Why? Because we have done everything possible for the past several years to reach the ultimate, great fights in each weight category, especially [at heavyweight].

“All this time we have been perfectly clear and transparent that the WBC will not impose any mandatory that goes against having the ultimate undisputed champion, because they’re fighting the best available.

“There’s no better fight than Usyk vs Fury, so with that fight happening and then the possibilities for the future, we have accepted the No 2 and No 3 to fight for the interim title. Keep them active, and keep the division having the best fights possible.” Kabayel is ranked second, while Zhang is actually seeded fourth – below the much-avoided Martin Bakole.

“For the winner on 21 December, there’s many options,” Sulaiman continued. “Why should anyone get in the way of a third fight? Or the fight again for undisputed [against Dubois]? Or any high-level event, while we can accommodate the champion [and have a] fight for an interim title, where the winner is going to be a high-level, sensational possibility? So, we’re all for having undisputed champions.”

Joshua is ranked sixth by the WBC, and Sulaiman, when asked whether AJ could challenge Zhang or Kabayel, said: “Absolutely. That’s an opening of possibilities for more fights to continue to take place.”

Zhang, 41, knocked out Joe Joyce twice in 2023 and dropped Joseph Parker twice in a decision loss in March. The Chinese star then bounced back in June, brutally knocking out Deontay Wilder.

Meanwhile, Kabayel is on a run of four straight knockout wins. The German, 32, most recently beat Frank Sanchez in May.

Turki Alalshikh has done it again.

The Riyadh Season magnate is about to deliver us Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 on Saturday, December 21st in Saudi Arabia. To help promote the event, he’s once again pulled out all the stops with a big money trailer that looks more like the preview for a major motion picture than a boxing match.

The teaser features Usyk and Fury being haunted by each others’ faces wherever they go. From therapists and nurses to wives and fathers, everywhere the fighters look they see their rival. Things get progressively sillier as Fury appears to Usyk in a mountainside while Usyk pushes out of Fury’s infamous pre-fight gut.

READ: Tyson Fury Weight Gain for Oleksandr Usyk Rematch: Strategy or Mistake?

The video, made by BigTime Creative Shop, looks influenced by some infamous music videos like Chris Cunningham’s Aphex Twin – Come to Daddy and Traktor’s Basement Jaxx – Where’s Your Head At. BigTime Creative Shop says they’re the fastest growing ad agency in MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and we believe them. This is just one of many baller videos made for Riyadh Season events, each more epic and creative than the last.

The first Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight went down May 18th and ended in a split decision win for Usyk. While the fight was close, a near-finish for Usyk in the 9th round was the biggest moment of the fight, earning the Ukrainian fighter the win on the scorecards and in the eyes of most who watched.

How will the rematch on December 21st go? Fury is reportedly much more focused this time around, but that’s a story we hear after every disappointing performance from “The Gypsy King.” Usyk has proven himself to be nothing if not reliable in his preparation and fight night performance, so it will be up to Tyson to turn the tide and win the rematch.

‘The Gypsy King’ fell to the first defeat of his professional career when he squared off with Usyk in May and they are now set to run it back on December 21.

Fury believes he lost their inaugural encounter by ‘taunting too much’ and has promised a far more aggressive approach to the rematch.

In order to achieve that, the Mancunian is piling on the timber and looks very bulky in recent images from his camp.

Boxing news: Tyson Fury shows off incredible body transformation for  Oleksandr Usyk rematch as boxing fans in agreement

READ: Why Floyd Mayweather threats nosedive as 50-0 becomes unbeatable

According to talkSPORT boxing pundit Gareth A Davies, Fury is aiming to come in around the 19 stone 7lbs mark (273lbs) – almost a stone heavier than he was for their first fight (18 st 10lbs/262lbs).

“When Tyson beat Klitschko nine years ago he was a 27-year-old, very light on his feet, he bamboozled opponents with those telescopic arms, his movement and tying fighters up,” said Davies on talkSPORT Fight Night on Saturday evening.

“That version went away in the three fights with Deontay Wilder, certainly the second and third fights where he became a bigger hitter at 19 and a half stone.

“I’m told internally from his camp that is where they intend him to be for Usyk in this fight, 19 and a half stone.”

Fury stepped on the scales at 18st 4.5lbs (256.5lbs) for his first meeting with Deontay Wilder in 2018 and boxed to a draw off the back foot in a fight that saw him taste the canvas on two occasions.

When they fought again 18 months later, Fury packed on 17lbs (273lbs/19st 7lbs) to pile on the pressure and return the favour by decking Wilder twice en route to a seventh-round stoppage win.

Fury then came in another 4lbs heavier (277lbs/19st 11lbs) for the trilogy and fought through early adversity to knock Wilder out in round ten.

Upping his weight and applying more front-foot pressure is a tried and tested adjustment that worked well for Fury against Wilder.

However, former three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie insists this gameplan will play right into Usyk’s hands.

“He [Fury] doesn’t live, eat, walk, talk the sport but you’re supposed to,” McKenzie told talkSPORT’s talkBOXING Podcast.

“In-between fights is where fights are won and lost. We know Fury blows up, puts on a load of weight between fights and then he has got to get rid of all that weight again.

“Now, they’re trying to tell us that Fury is going to be bigger and better.

“Bigger and better isn’t going to beat Usyk. It’s really not.

“If he puts on more weight and thinks to himself ‘I’m going to bully Usyk this time, I’m going to go in and walk him down, I’ll be able to take his shots because I’m that much bigger’, it’s not going to work for him.

“He’s going to be slower, he’s going to be more predictable, he’s going to get hit more and a lot sooner.

“Usyk wins the rematch all day long, I can’t see how Tyson Fury beats him. He’s not going to knock Usyk out.”

Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is geared to lock horns with former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21st at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for their blockbuster rematch. In the meantime, ‘The Gypsy King’ is offering all expenses paid free two VIP tickets to one lucky winner. 

The duo originally squared off against each other back in May earlier this year in what turned out to be one of the most exciting matchups of the year. Despite Fury’s several advantages, the Ukrainian southpaw bested the Englishman via split decision. Since then, their rematch has become one of the affairs most discussed in the sport.

Fury has announced that to grab VIP tickets, you’ll only need to spend $6 or £5—a surprisingly affordable price for an exclusive experience. “I am raffling off two VIP ringside tickets to the fight… Your flights and your hotel are on us… This is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience for any boxing fan,” Fury said in a clip shared on Instagram earlier today.

 

JUST IN: Tyson Fury fights Oleksandr Usyk to be .the best of his generation’ – Frank Warren

Meanwhile, in the caption of the post, he wrote, “For just £5 entry!” But the question remains, how can you enter this giveaway? Fury provided a link for raffall[dot]com in his post, where fans can pay $6 or £5 to enter the raffle. It’s also worth mentioning that the raffle is ending on Sunday, 8th December at 12:30 or whenever the last ticket for the raffle sells out.

That said, if you’re thinking about placing a bet on the fight, a former world champion has weighed in with their prediction, offering some intriguing insights into how the bout might unfold.

Having suffered his first career loss last May, Fury has promised vengeance upon ‘The Cat’ in December, as he plans to secure a victory this time round. However, former British super bantamweight champion Duke McKenzie remains unconvinced by Fury’s efforts. He went as far as to call Fury’s approach to the rematch flawed, predicting another loss.

“In-between fights are where fights are won and lost. We know Fury blows up, puts on a load of weight, and then has got to get rid of all that weight again,” McKenzie said in a social media interview. He also criticized Fury’s plan to overpower Usyk with size, “Bigger and better isn’t going to beat Usyk. He’ll be slower, more predictable, and get hit more.” 

Declaring the Ukrainian unbeatable, McKenzie added, “Usyk wins the rematch all day long. I can’t see how Tyson Fury beats him.”

It seems Tyson Fury is aiming to cash in on a great opportunity while giving fans a chance to experience his highly anticipated fight against Oleksandr Usyk at a fraction of the usual cost. It’s a win-win: he gets to promote the event, and fans get a shot at an unforgettable experience.

Tyson Fury is fighting for his place in boxing history when he rematches Oleksandr Usyk next month.

The Usyk vs Fury II Riyadh Season event is live on Sky Sports Box Office on December 21.

The heavyweights first clashed in a dramatic undisputed world championship fight earlier this year when Usyk pipped Fury on a split decision.

Laurence Okolie explains why he has signed for Frank Warren’s Queensberry  Promotions

JUST IN: Gervonta Davis insults opponent while announcing his next fight

Usyk subsequently had to vacate the IBF title, but Fury will challenge for the unified WBC, WBO and WBO world championships.

Beating Usyk in would be a crucial part of the British fighter’s legacy, which includes memorable victories in his first world title fight against Wladimir Klitschko and a trilogy with Deontay Wilder.

Victory in the December rematch with the Ukrainian would be his greatest triumph yet.

Promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports: “All the doubters, all the journalists were saying Usyk is now up there with all the legends of the sport, the Muhammad Alis, the Fraziers, the Foremans, the Joe Louis, as being one of the greatest and certainly the greatest of his generation.

“And I’m pleased they’ve said that because when Tyson beats him no one can debate the fact that he’s beat the best of his generation which will make him the best of his generation.”

Even though Usyk did manage to badly shake him up in the first fight, Fury is not concerned.

“That punch, if he chucked that punch he hit me with maybe 100 times it would have not done any damage. But [that] one time it did,” he told Sky Sports.

The first fight was finely balanced and Fury believes a slight recalibration can see him win the rematch.

“I don’t think I can be any better than what I [was] because I think it was probably one of the best performances that I’ve ever done in my life. Although it didn’t get the result I thought it was a very fantastic performance against one of my best opponents,” he said.

“Can I be any better? Can I do any better? I can be more focused, less clowning and I think that’s enough.”

Tyson Fury has named two important changes he can make to beat Oleksandr Usyk in the pair’s rematch.

Fury will look to avenge his first-ever professional boxing defeat when he faces Usyk for the second time in Saudi Arabia this Christmas.

‘The Gypsy King’ missed out on the opportunity to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 when he lost in his historic meeting with the Ukrainian by split-decision.

Fury has the chance to win his belts back

JUST IN: Oleksandr Usyk knows Tyson Fury’s weakness and that’s the problem’

Usyk dropped Fury in the ninth round en route to victory as the latter stumbled all over the ring in both men’s bids to unite all four belts for the first time in 25 years.

“I don’t think I can be any better than what I did,” Fury said, speaking to Sky Sports.

“Because I think it was probably one of the best performances I’ve ever done in my life.

“Although I didn’t get the result, I thought it was a very fantastic performance against one of my best opponents.”

Fury will be the underdog in the pair’s December rematch and it will likely be tough to overturn his defeat against ‘The Cat’.

However, the 36-year-old Manchester native believes he did enough to overcome Usyk in their first bout and even had himself ahead on his own scorecard.

Many boxing fans called for the former two-time champion to make changes, especially to his corner where John Fury–his dad–joined Andy Lee and Sugar Hill Steward.

But Fury doesn’t seem to think there is much room for improvement following the first clash of titans.

“Can I be any better? Can I do any better?” he added.

“I can be more focused, and less clowning and I think that’s enough.

“Maybe if he chucked that punch he hit me 100 times and maybe not done any damage, but you know the one time it did and that’s all she wrote really.”

Fury was asked about his corner’s advice in a face-off with Usyk on TNT Sports, after the pair met in their October press conference.

He admitted that ‘people can have their opinions’ and talk however they like, but quite frankly ‘they’re not in there doing the fighting’.

Fury’s rematch with Usyk will not be for the undisputed titles after the latter was stripped of his IBF belt once he agreed to the fight

The winner of the clash could face Daniel Dubois next after he retained the IBF title in style by knocking out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September.

Former world champion Billy Joe Saunders is a friend of Fury’s and recently told talkSPORT’s Jim White and Simon Jordan that the heavyweight great has a better game plan in place now.

“Listen, I’ve been keeping a close eye and I’ve been talking to his nutritionist Greg Marriot,” he told talkSPORT’s White & Jordan.

“His weight is looking good and his sparring is going well and he’s looking good.

“I think the game plan they’ve got now for this fight after speaking with Tyson the other day makes a lot more sense.

“It makes a hell of a lot more sense to me, the game plan last time was pickey-pokey and running around.

“It was about showing off in the ring and I think he was enjoying himself a bit too much.

“He let Usyk back in it, but this time I don’t think Usyk will get back in the fight if Tyson is up in the first six rounds this time.

“Definitely not.”

Oleksandr Usyk has the power, the pace and the plan to beat Tyson Fury, says Sky Sports boxing expert and former world champion Johnny Nelson…

You can tell Fury doesn’t like to play second fiddle to anybody. I’m quite sure this is a lot more personal now for Tyson Fury no matter how he tries to look at it, because now he’s come up against a guy that he can’t intimidate. He’s come up against a guy that just doesn’t give him anything.

Fury knows now it’s about all his skills, all his ability, experience and the fight that he’s got left inside him. That’s got to be enough because if it isn’t, it’s quite clear this fight will probably go shorter than the last fight did.

Former WBO cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson questions whether  Tyson Fury can get over the mental hurdle of losing to undisputed  heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

READ: Eddie Hearn offers Anthony Joshua update amid surprise Daniel Dubois news

Now Usyk’s tasted his strength, his speed, his pace once, he has a better measure of him.

Remember what he did with Anthony Joshua. Anthony Joshua tried the same tactics as Fury, tried to outbox him, outsmart him and then in the second fight, even though AJ’s performance was great, Usyk’s performance was better. It was more calculated and it will be the same here.

Now he has the measure of the man in Tyson Fury, he knows that Tyson Fury is probably going to try and jump on him. Use his strength, use his size, use his physicality, which is what he should have done in the first place and that’s what he needs to do now.

Tyson needs to make sure that, combined with his boxing ability, puts the pressure on him from the off. Because the longer the fight goes, there’s more chance of him not being able to maintain that constant pressure, that physical pace on Usyk. Whereas Usyk, what he said in the first fight was: I’m not going to leave you alone. I’ll make you work for your supper and that’s what he did.

Tyson Fury has described Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois as limited fighters while expressing confidence in his superior boxing skills ahead of his December rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

The ‘Gypsy King,’ who will challenge Usyk for three heavyweight titles in Riyadh, dismissed calls to alter his approach, instead highlighted his unique style as the key to victory.

“Pretty much the same as I did before – good boxing. For someone of my size and weight, it’s unusual to be able to box and slip, so why would I take that out of my game?” Fury told TNT Sports.

Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk

READ: Jake Paul’s Next Opponent May Be 54-Win Former Champ Who Fought Canelo

“People say I should walk forward on Usyk, chase him down and hit him, but if it were that easy, why didn’t Joshua, who is a big, strong man, do it? Why didn’t Dubois manage it? Those men are limited compared to me – very limited.”

Fury, whose loss to Usyk in May saw the Ukrainian claim the undisputed heavyweight crown, remains confident in his strategy, citing his agility, focus, and versatility as decisive factors in the rematch.

“A man who charges straight at him is like Christmas come early. I’m a side-on boxer – slipping, sliding, throwing uppercuts, and hooking. I’ll do all that, but with more focus. That’s my route to victory,” he added.

Fury also dismissed criticism of his corner team, which includes his father, John Fury, alongside trainers SugarHill Steward and Andy Lee.

“People can have their opinions, but at the end of the day, they’re not the ones stepping into the ring. If I’m happy, the world’s happy – and I’m happy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Usyk has played down the impact of Fury’s power in their first encounter – a claim Fury disputes. Despite the rivalry, Fury has accepted his earlier defeat with humility.

“I believe God has a plan for everyone, and in that plan, Usyk was meant to win. He did, so fair play to him,” Fury remarked.

Fury’s comments about Joshua and Dubois come amidst ongoing speculation about their futures in the heavyweight division. Joshua,34, suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois in September, raising questions about his next steps.

Trainer Tony Sims recently suggested that a long-awaited bout between Fury and Joshua remains a possibility, regardless of the outcome of Fury’s rematch with Usyk.

Tyson Fury, 36, will need a flawless strategy from his trainer, SugarHill Steward, to secure a victory.

However, SugarHill appeared lost in the corner, with the rest of Fury’s team offering no solutions. Given the ineffective support Fury had in his corner, his chances in the rematch seem bleak. As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out.”

Tyson Fury posted on his Instagram page saying that the three heavyweight titles Oleksandr Usyk holds will be “mine again” four weeks from now when they meet for their rematch on December 21st.

Tyson Fury Oleksandr usyk

JUST IN: Devin Haney Better Than Gervonta Davis? Bill Haney Makes Bold Comparison

“My rematches only end in one way,” posted Tyson Fury on his Instagram page.

Usyk exuded the cold, lethal presence of a hitman during the Usyk-Fury 2 face-off. His intense stare seemed to pierce through Fury, conveying the sense that Usyk has already figured him out.

Their upcoming fight on December 21st will pick up where their previous encounter left off, particularly echoing the infamous round nine from May 18th, when the referee intervened, pushing Usyk aside just as he was about to finish off a severely hurt Fury, who looked like a punching bag.

Rematches against Deontay Wilder, Dereck Chisora and John McDermott aren’t exactly murderer’s row types of competition, and those fights occurred many years ago when Fury was a lot younger than he is now. He appears to be in his mid-40s, and he’s going up against a much better fighter in Usyk than the three fighters he fought in rematches.

Tyson Fury claimed this week that he’s going to box Usyk this time and show the ability that he didn’t display in their previous fight. It looked like Fury was trying to box last May, but Usyk was too skilled and was able to hit him.

Again, we all saw how the referee saved Fury in the ninth round when he was out on his feet, taking nonstop punches and helpless to defend himself. The referee gave Fury a standing eight count, but most fans saw that as a case of the referee saving the popular fighter. There will be a different referee this time to save Fury’s hide.

“Four weeks to go for the biggest fight of the year, the biggest fight in boxing, me and Usyk. I’m coming in hot. I can’t wait. 21st of December, the belts are going to be mine again,” said Tyson Fury on Instagram.

Tyson Fury has branded rivals Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois “limited” ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury is preparing for his sequel with Usyk having lost to the Ukrainian in their undisputed world title fight in May. Only three belts will be on the line in Riyhad four days before Christmas as Fury attempts to avenge his sole career defeat. And the Brit has no plans to change his style, despite almost being stopped by Usyk.

Asked how he will approach the rematch, Fury told TNT Sports: “Pretty much the same as I did before, good boxing. Someone of my size and heaviness, it’s not normal that I should be able to box and slip, so why would I take that away from my game? People say to me I need to walk forward on Usyk, walk him down and hit him, but if it was so easy why didn’t Joshua, who is a big strong man, do that? Why didn’t Dubois do it? Those men are limited compared to me, very limited.

Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury

JUST IN: Floyd Mayweather Says he’d Fight Jake Paul Under One Condition

“A man who walks forward to him is Christmas come early. I’m a side-on boxer, slipping, sliding, uppercutting, hooking, I’m going to do that but with more focus. A little bit more focused on my job, I think that’s my way to victory.” Fury also confirmed he won’t make any changes to his corner after his dad John came in for criticism for his role in the defeat.

Fury Sr was one of three voices yelling instructions to to Fury between rounds, alongside trainers SugarHill Steward and Andy Lee. But Fury insists he has ignored those calling for him remove his dad. “People can have opinions… but at the end of the day they’re not in the ring doing the fighting so it’s unimportant what they think about what’s going on in my corner. If I’m happy, the world’s happy, and I’m happy.”

Usyk insisted he was never hurt by Fury, while the beaten man denied the fight should have been stopped when he came under huge pressure in the ninth round. “It’s the world heavyweight title fight, undisputed [so the fight should not have been stopped].” he said. “At least a man’s got to go down to the floor and someone like me, who has been down loads of times, who gets back up, at least give me one chance.

“I’m a big believer in God. So I believe that God has a plan for everybody, and the plan was for Usyk to win this fight. And he did, so fair play. I knew it was a close fight. I thought I’d done enough, but listen, I don’t complain. He’s got the victory. I was happy for him. I congratulated him. I was happy that we both went home to our family safe.”

Verified by MonsterInsights