Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are getting ready for their big heavyweight rematch. The fight's set for December 21 in Saudi Arabia, seven months after their first undisputed contest.
Usyk won the first fight on points back in May. It was a big deal - the first undisputed heavyweight contest since Lennox Lewis held all the major belts in 1999.
While watching their first fight, Usyk didn't seem too worried about Fury's punching power. When asked about it, he simply said, "No feel." But he did notice Fury's body work, telling himself to "move, move, move" during the fight. Usyk seems pretty confident, saying the idea of Fury knocking him out is just "dreaming."
The first fight went the full 12 rounds and was really engaging. Usyk landed more significant shots and handed Fury his first professional loss.
This time around, three of the four major belts are up for grabs. Usyk had to give up the IBF belt to make this rematch happen. Daniel Dubois picked up that belt after beating Fillip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.
Usyk's got some serious skills. He's a former Olympic Gold medalist and was the undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight.
Fury, known as "The Gypsy King," has shown he can win fights in different ways. He won his first world title on points against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany back in 2015. He's also known for his knockouts, like when he beat Deontay Wilder with heavy punching in two of their three fights. And who can forget that one-punch uppercut knockout against Dillian Whyte at Wembley?
The rematch is coming up fast, and there's a lot on the line. The winner might go after Daniel Dubois for that fourth belt to become truly undisputed. Or we might even see a third fight between Usyk and Fury.
In a recent interview with TNT Sports Boxing, Usyk shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight:
"I don't feel Fury's power. But his body work, I noticed that. I told myself to keep moving. The idea of him knocking me out? That's just dreaming."
With both fighters showing confidence, this rematch is shaping up to be another thrilling contest in the heavyweight division.
