Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to face off again on December 21 for the undisputed heavyweight championship. The rematch comes after Usyk's split decision victory over Fury in May, which made him the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Their first encounter saw Fury humbled despite his pre-fight antics. The self-proclaimed "Gypsy King" had a tough time, especially in the ninth round when he received a count from the referee. After the fight, Fury admitted he lost focus and was having too much fun, promising to be better in the rematch.
Usyk, who holds titles as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion and is a former Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion, as well as an Olympic Gold Medalist from London 2012, has high regard for his opponent. In an interview with TNT Sports Boxing, Usyk shared his thoughts on Fury:
"Tyson Fury is a very smart fighter. He recovers very fast. He's the toughest opponent I've ever faced."
Despite criticism of his corner team for giving mixed messages in the later rounds of the first fight, Fury has decided to keep the same team for the rematch. John Fury, Andy Lee, and SugarHill Stewart will continue to be in his corner.
The rematch holds significant importance for both fighters. Usyk will defend his titles, while Fury seeks to avenge the only professional loss of his career. Boxing fans are eager to see if Fury can physically challenge the world champion in this rematch.
As the fight date approaches, the boxing world waits to see if Fury can live up to his promise of improvement or if Usyk will continue his reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
