Two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury was left confused by Oleksandr Usyk’s “don’t be afraid” comment ahead of their blockbuster rematch this month.
The Ukrainian became the first man to defeat Fury in a professional setting after scoring a split-decision victory back in May. The two heavyweight stars will once again go head-to-head in the squared-circle on December 21 as ‘The Gypsy King’ will be desperate to get his revenge.
Ahead of the sequel, Fury insisted that he will be looking to knock his heavyweight rival out. Speaking in an interview ahead of the console release of the boxing video game ‘Undisputed’, when asked what tactic he preferred out of staying on the outside or stepping into a fighter, Fury answered: “I don’t know. It’s horses for courses isn’t it? It all depends on what I need to do on the night. I needed to get Wilder out of there or he got me out of there and that’s the type of fight it had to be.
JUST IN: ‘It will be a different fight!’ – Oleksandr Usyk ready for Tyson Fury once more
“It had to be a 50/50 gunsling with the biggest puncher in history or else he’d have chinned me in round nine. Going into the rematch with Usyk, it’s going to be the same. I’m going to roll the dice and it’s going to be you or me… best foot forward and swing away. I’ve never been afraid to get knocked spark out. I’ve always put it on the line every time.”
He added: “There’s no secret! I’m going in there to knock you out because I don’t think I’m going to get a decision no matter what I do. I don’t think I’m going to get a boxing decision, so I’m going to have to take it out of the judges hands like I did in America that time and I’ve got to get him (Usyk) out of there. Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there to see victory.”
With a little over two weeks to go until the rematch, the two men faced off to discuss the upcoming clash. Speaking on the DAZN YouTube channel, Usyk was asked if he felt as if Fury ran from him in the first outing, to which he replied: “I said ‘not run, don’t be afraid.’ I will not leave you alone again.”
Baffled by the comments, Fury responded: “What does that even mean? Don’t be afraid… of a boxing match? I’ve had many boxing matches before and not been afraid. I’m sure you have as well, you’ve had 300 amateur fights, you’re not going to be afraid of a boxing match. I don’t really make much of that.”
Following the first encounter, Fury revealed it was Usyk’s divine right to emerge victorious from their undisputed heavyweight title fight. Speaking at the launch press conference of the highly-anticipated rematch in Ocotber, Fury said: “It’s actually been about four and half years – the Deontay Wilder II fight – since I was the underdog in a fight. I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight. Oleksandr won the first fight fair and square.
“It was very close last time. I’ll be a bit more focussed, a lack of complacency and I should do the job. Nothing drastic has to change. A bit more of the same, a bit more focused, and I will be victorious. Last time it wasn’t my time to win or God would have given me victory. I’m very happy Usyk got the decision. That was meant to be, and we’re going to find out what is meant to be on December 21.
“I believe it’s my time this time and all things that happen – positive or negative – are lessons and we must learn from these things as humans, boxers, fathers and husbands. What we know is to go out there and knock each other out and put on a show for the paying customer. I hope you guys will enjoy this fight as much as I will.”
