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Pick It: Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II
When to Watch: Saturday, December 21. The undercard begins at 10:30am Eastern Time (3:30pm GMT).
How to watch: DAZN pay-per-view
David Benavidez has no shortage of HUGE fights on his radar. In an exclusive interview with BoxingScene, Jose Benavidez Sr. makes it clear that David still wants the biggest names at 175lbs including Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez has previously said those are two fights he wants to make as he pursues more titles and major challenges. But there’s another name that could make things very interesting: Andy Ruiz Jr. Jose discusses the possibility of an all-Mexican showdown between Benavidez and the former heavyweight champion, along with David’s plans across multiple divisions. And with a potential Jai Opetaia showdown also building after the pair came face-to-face following Opetaia’s latest victory, Benavidez has some massive options ahead.
Why to Watch: The two best heavyweights in the world meet again.
In May Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury shared a ring, and Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) left with all four world titles and therefore the undisputed championship.
Usyk won’t be undisputed champion for this rematch — he vacated the IBF belt, since won by Daniel Dubois — but this second fight with Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) will still have three titles on the line as well as recognition as the lineal champ.
Will Usyk remain on the throne? Or will Fury regain it?
Their first meeting ended with a split decision for Usyk. The scores were 115-112 and 114-113 for Usyk and 114-113 for Fury. One point made the difference between Usyk winning the title and Fury retaining with a draw.
That one point came in the pivotal ninth round – a 10-8 round for Usyk. He hurt Fury badly, pummeled him around the ring, and was credited with a knockdown near the end of the round when the referee ruled that the ropes had held Fury upright.
Fury had his own moments as well, particularly in the first half of the fight, and especially with his uppercuts and body shots.
Both will likely arrive at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with strategic adjustments in mind based on what they experienced in May, what they’ve seen in the footage since, and what they believe will happen on Saturday.
Both has won every rematch they’ve had. Barring a draw, that will change with the result of Usyk-Fury II.
Fury, a 36-year-old from Morecambe, England, triumphed in rematches with John McDermott in 2010, Derek Chisora in 2014 and 2022, and most famously with Deontay Wilder in 2020 and 2021. The first Wilder fight was a draw. This rematch with Usyk will be Fury’s first time trying to avenge a loss.
As for Usyk, the 37-year-old Ukrainian’s sole rematch was a split decision over Anthony Joshua following a unanimous decision victory in their first installment. Usyk’s most notable amateur accomplishment was also a rematch – he outpointed Clemente Russo for Olympic gold in the 2012 heavyweight tournament. Russo defeated Usyk in the quarter-finals of the 2008 Games.
As for what comes next? Perhaps there could be a third fight. Otherwise, there are a number of alternatives, which I delved into in-depth in my most recent Fighting Words.
Here’s some of what’s on the undercard:
Junior-middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) will take on late replacement Ishmael Davis (13-1, 6 KOs), who steps in for Israil Madrimov. Davis was last seen losing narrowly while giving Josh Kelly a tough fight in September.
The heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma (10-0, 8 KOs) faces Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KOs). Itauma took out the long-faded former title challenger Mariusz Wach in two rounds in July. McKean was knocked out in the 12th round by Filip Hrgovic in August 2023.
The unbeaten heavyweight Johnny Fisher (12-0, 11 KOs) steps in against David Allen (23-6-2, 18 KOs). Fisher took out Alen Babic in less than a minute in July. Allen has won a pair of gimmes since being stopped in six rounds by Frazer Clarke in September 2023.
A featherweight fight features Lee McGregor (14-1-1, 11 KOs) and Isaac Lowe (25-2-3, 8 KOs). McGregor has won two straight since a decision loss in July 2023 to the 13-1 Erik Robles Ayala. Lowe dropped two in a row a few years back, finished on a body shot by Luis Alberto Lopez in December 2021, and was then stopped in six by Nick Ball in April 2022. He was at a low point in his career, but he has rebounded with four wins – including a points victory in May over the 16-1 Hasibullah Ahmadi.
More Fights to Watch
Tuesday, December 17: Andy Dominguez vs. Angel Geovanny Meza Morales (DAZN)
The broadcast begins at 7pm Eastern Time (midnight GMT).
The headline bout at Sony Hall in New York City pits Andy Dominguez (11-1, 6 KOs) against Angel Geovanny Meza Morales (8-2-3, 6 KOs).
The 26-year-old Dominguez lost a unanimous decision to unbeaten prospect Yankiel Rivera in February, then returned in June with a majority decision over the 10-1 Cristopher Rios.
Morales, who is 24 years old, suffered his first defeat in September 2023, when he dropped a split decision to then-unbeaten Pedro Delgado Gaytan. Morales then notched two wins before taking another loss in his last appearance, coming up on the short end of a unanimous decision in October against the 7-0-1 Daniel Barrera.
The co-feature bout between Kurt Scoby and late replacement Andrew Rodgers was canceled Monday evening after the fighters had weighed in due to Rodgers being ill.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod. He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
