I did pick Usyk in the first fight and he was denied a stoppage win. I was adamant he'd beat him, really I should be thinking he wins easier but I actually don't. I'm an Usyk fanboy but I think Fury probably edges the rematch.
Usyk is old and steadily declining. An excellent performance vs Fury. Brilliant to see this 'blown up middleweight' walk down a 6'9, 270lb giant. I think the element of surprise has now gone, not to say Usyk will be easy he absolutely will not. Not to say he can't have success on the backfoot or other ways even, he absolutely can in fact I thought he'd do that more in parts and look to make Fury overextend and give up his height.
This maybe unpopular because Fury took more damage but for me at Usyks age and such, that fight, all the others, that performance will have taken more out of him in the long run. You just can not underestimate how physically demanding it is fighting, grappling with naturally much larger men especially at his age with all that wear and tear. Don't get me wrong Fury is no spring chicken either and been dropped and hurt more times than I can count in recent memory but I feel a bigger can withstand it for a longer period.
I think those 12 rounds even though he took a bit of a beating at times did Fury more good than it did Usyk.
I feel he will come in better prepared, fitter, sharper, wiser.
I get when Fury says it was easier than he expected he sounds delusional but I also get the points that he is trying to make. Yes it was only maybe 4 rounds he sustained it but Usyk was far too stationary, far too easy to hit and he was always going to surge, he always does but this time I don't think it'll come.
I think he is just at that age, took that much damage and Father Time will come calling and he won't be able to put his foot down, he couldn't in the first fight and he didn't throw his usual volume. All this time since, another gruelling camp, it adds up, it all takes a tole.
Its not a technical breakdown its more my gut instinct but I also get why many will favour Usyk and why he is perhaps favourite. I just think its timing & Usyks time is coming to its end.
Obviously there will be some adjustments and such but I don't think they will necessarily be a big factor its more simply timing. His physical attributes, Usyks age, wear & tear and being on a slow decline. I just see Fury taking it.
Similar to the first fight only with the roles reversed.
Usyk better stop Fury (he will) or Joshua is going to have a clear roadmap to a belt.
Just like he did with Dubois...gave him the champions entrance and everything
I agree. I think Usyk's age will play a factor. He looked slower in the first fight with less output.
They're one year apart, Fury has abused his body for 36 years with drugs, alcohol, food and laziness while Usyk has trained his body for 37,
The last fight changed when usyk hurt fury and fury couldn’t keep up with the pace of the fight
fury will win the first half of the fight again and then it depends if he can survive the second half imo
I understand the concern for Usyk's age, but I think the mileage on Fury may be a bigger factor on how this fight plays out. I don't know how Fury will approach this fight (will he box again or will he try to maul Usyk?), regardless, I get the feeling Fury will be unable to keep up with Usyk's pace and will be hurt and dropped at some point again.
Fury may find a way to win, but I see him struggling at some point during the mid to late rounds unless he stops Usyk before the fight gets to that point.
I don`t see it. Fury will have his moments again, but he will gas out again. I don`t think Fury can improve his stamina.
keep in mind Fury is a challenger now and Usyk is the only champ. Fury will have to outwork Usyk very well to get a decision.
Fury’s chin is very suspect.
He basically walked through Wilder on several occasions, got knocked down a few times, and didn’t remember aspects of their third fight.
Then Usyk punished him even worse in one round than Wilder had in three fights.
I think his beard is gone. He might even get knocked out this time.
Fury has been getting fall down drunk in public while Usyk has been in the gym.
Fury has been dropped six times in his last nine fights and eight times overall.
Usyk is going to stop him this time.Yes, I hope Uysk does beat Fury again. It reflects more what the ideal fighter should be; professional and a gentleman
That post would make sense if Fury did better than Usyk in the late rounds, but he didn't. Also, Usyk is more disciplined and is in better shape than Fury. Not saying Fury can't win, he has a very good chance seeing that he gave Usyk the opportunity to turn the fight around by playing, but I don't see a reason to confidently pick him.
Usyk's style really is very dependent on stamina, which makes it all the more impressive that he can perform so consistently.
That's one thing though. Usyk is consistent. Fury isn't. You never know who's going to show, and they both know now that Usyk can hurt Fury, and that if Fury tries to steamroll Usyk, that will just give Usyk more openings too. I don't know that Fury is mentally strong enough. It's easy to say that he's supposed to bully Usyk, but less easy to do it when you know he put a pillar to pillar beating on you the last time you fought when he got the opening.
I suspect Fury will fight much more cautiously, and fight from the outside. If he's going to win, he needs to keep to his long guard and have way more stamina than last time, and likely get John Fury out of the arena entirely.
Fury needs to approach this fight the SAME way as the Wilder rematch and come out all guns blazing trying to take his head off. It's the only chance he's got of winning plus Usyk was definitely hurt several times during their fight. However, if he doesn't get him out of there early, Usyk will just outbox him and win on points due to his superior stamina and work rate or even stop him.
Fury has been getting fall down drunk in public while Usyk has been in the gym.
Fury has been dropped six times in his last nine fights and eight times overall.
Usyk is going to stop him this time.