As soon as Tyson Fury announced that he would step up his game for the rematch against heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk in order to roll over the Ukrainian with full offensive power, the “Gypsy King” was already adopting a completely different tone.
“I won’t do anything differently (than in the first fight, editor),” said Fury on “Sky Sports” with a view to his revenge against Usyk on December 21st in Riyadh.
“The only thing I will change is not being counted in round nine. Otherwise I would have clearly won,” said the Brit, referring to his defeat in the first fight.
Usyk had shocked Fury with a left in the ninth round on May 18, and the 2.06-meter giant fell into the ropes several times before the referee counted him out. The gong then saved the badly injured Fury.
After twelve rounds, the Englishman narrowly lost the fight for the undisputed heavyweight crown with 1:2 judges’ votes. “It could have gone either way. I lost by one point,” said Fury, commenting on the verdict against him.
The former champion said he just had to be “a little more focused” in the rematch. He is a “very educated heavyweight boxer” and will not march towards Usyk with double coverage like Anthony Joshua or Daniel Dubois in order to defeat him.
Boxing: Fury wants to fight Usyk with more focus
“My style is all about skill, movement, swinging punches and delivering the jab. All I have to do to win the rematch is make small adjustments. That means not messing around with my hands behind my back so much. More focus my job. Just a more serious version of what I was already doing.”
Fury recently emphasized that he would act much more offensively in December and would be fully aiming for the knockout. “I’m going to go in there in destruction mode. The last time I boxed him, I was careful. This time I’m not looking for a point verdict,” he said on “TNT Sports” a few weeks ago.
Fury repeatedly tried to make a comparison to his second duel with Deontay Wilder in 2020. After a technical first fight, he gained weight for revenge and literally crushed the feared knockout in the ring.
