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Rematch Prediction: Evander Holyfield Delivers His Honest Verdict On Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk Rematch

Like Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, Evander Holyfield had some famous rematches across his legendary career.

Arguably Holyfield’s most famous fight was his second contest with Mike Tyson. The pair first did battle in 1996 for the WBA heavyweight title and saw ‘The Real Deal’ win by stoppage in the 11th round.

A year later in 1997, they met in the ring once more, this time in a match that infamously became known as ‘the bite fight.’ Holyfield started well but Tyson grew frustrated with what he thought were intentional headbutts from his opponent.

He took matters into his own hands in the third round and bit a chunk out of Holyfield’s right ear before then doing the same again and eventually being disqualified.

There was nothing as bizarre about Fury and Usyk’s first fight back in May. Usyk came out as the points winner after landing the one standout punch of the fight in the ninth round and walked away from the ring as the undisputed heavyweight champion, a feat he achieved six years previous down at cruiserweight.

Speaking to FightHype, Holyfield was asked about the rematch and made it clear what Fury needs to do to avenge his only career defeat.

READ MORE : Tyson Fury Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If There Were ‘Too Many Voices…..

“I think that he gotta use the jab more. He’s going to have to double jab more, I think sometimes grabbing the person makes it worse for him. He has to be able to step back, come forward, step back. Grabbing people tends to give people a bit of a rest and give them the chance to hit you.”

Fury himself has vowed to be more concentrated in the rematch having admitted he lost focus in the first fight, while Usyk has conceded Fury was his toughest opponent.

Tyson Fury Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If There Were ‘Too Many Voices’ In His Corner For Usyk Fight

Next month Tyson Fury faces a new challenge in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk – avenge a defeat.

The big man from Morecambe looked on his way to victory in the middle rounds of the pair’s first fight back in May. Thudding uppercuts were landing and putting a dent in the Ukrainian.

It all changed in the eighth when Fury had his nose bloodied. The ninth was a torrid round for him ending in a barrage of unanswered shots that saw the referee give him a standing eight count. It proved to be the difference on the cards with Usyk taking the split decision win to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades.

When the going got tough, many feel Fury’s corner was chaotic. Head trainer SugarHill Steward, coach Andy Lee and father John Fury were all delivering instructions. Some in the sport believe it to be a pivotal factor in the defeat.

READ MORE : After mike tyson Canelo Says He Is Willing To Fight Jake Paul Under One…..

In a feature with TNT Sports in which both Fury and Usyk watched the fight back and were posed questions throughout, the Brit was asked what he thought of the criticism that there were ‘too many voices’ in his ear.

“Listen, people can have opinions and what they want to say but at the end of the day they’re not in there doing the fighting. It’s really unimportant what other people think of what was going on in my corner. If I’m happy then the world’s happy, and I’m happy.”

Tyson Fury has confirmed he will travel to Riyadh with the same team as he did in the first fight. Whether or not there will be one voice coming from the corner on fight night remains to be seen.

Usyk, who have since vacated the IBF belt, puts his WBC, WBO and WBA titles on the line on December 21.

I’ m the best’ Heavyweight Who Has Sparred Fury, Usyk, Dubois And Joshua Says One Man Is Better Than Them All

Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are the two current heavyweight champions and thus the top dogs in the division on paper.

A more detailed look shows Tyson Fury up there following a close points loss to Usyk back in May and the chance to avenge that next month. Anthony Joshua has long hovered around the top as well, but Dubois’ statement knockout of the former two-time champion dropped him down a rank or two

British fan-favourite Dave Allen has sparred all four men. In fact, he retired from the sport for a period after a concussive session with formerly undisputed Usyk.

Despite being complimentary of each man when discussing the work in the gym, ‘The Doncaster De La Hoya’ believes bogeyman Martin Bakole is the best in the world. He explained why to Boxing Social.

“I think Martin Bakole is the best heavyweight in the world. I think he probably beats everybody. I’ve said this for a while. He’s so big, but he’s so fast. When he puts his shots together so well, there’s an aura about him as well. Jared Anderson is huge, 6ft4, 18 stone. Bakole made him look like a baby, look like a child.

Bakole would beat Usyk. I’ve no doubt in my mind, way too big. He’s all wrong for Usyk. The only people I can see giving him trouble is Zhang ’cause he’s as big as him, Fury and Joshua.”

READ MORE : Next: Anthony Joshua curiously head up To Face One Heavyweight Next But….

Bakole’s brutal win over hot US prospect Jared Anderson was the best of his career in terms of reach and significance. He now finds himself high ranked with the sanctioning bodies and banging the door for a title shot. He and his trainer Billy Nelson believe that the only way any of the above agree to fight him is if they are backed into a corner and ordered to do so.

With George Foreman-esque thudding shots and a seemingly fearless approach to the sweet science, fans, pundits and fellow fighters are coming round to the idea that Bakole could be ruling the roost in the near future.

Allen returns on the Fury-Usyk 2 bill against Johnny Fisher

How to get there Experience Riyadh for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2: How to get there, where to stay, things to see & more

A huge heavyweight ring rematch looms large on the horizon as the Riyadh Season continues to bring the thrills

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury rekindle their ring relationship this December, as the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosts another huge boxing extravaganza. ‘The Gypsy King’, Tyson Fury, enters the Riyadh ring on Saturday, December 21, aiming to avenge his first-ever professional defeat. The British boxer missed his chance to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion this millennium back in May. Instead, that honour went to Usyk, who won their first encounter in a split decision to claim all four world heavyweight belts. The full set of titles won’t be up for grabs on this occasion, with the IBF crown currently sitting pretty on Daniel Dubois’s head, with Usyk having vacated that belt earlier this year. That fact, of course, doesn’t detract from the enormity of the December clash.

Usyk vs Fury will go head-to-head once again at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The arena is located in the area known as Boulevard City, in the northwest region of Riyadh. Construction of Kingdom Arena (initially known as the Boulevard Hall) began in mid-2023. It was intended to be an entertainment focal point, hosting events associated with the winter Riyadh Season, where the world’s best athletes and artists would meet, converge and perform. In September 2023, the Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) made a major investment in the venue, and Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal would begin playing regular home games there. As part of the agreement, KHC also received the naming rights to the stadium. In October 2023, the annual Riyadh Season activities got underway at the Kingdom Arena, when it held the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou heavyweight encounter. Several epic boxing clashes have taken place at the venue over the past year, including Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou (March 2024), Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (May 2024) & Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol (October 2024).

READ MORE :“It’s The Only Big Name” Tyson Fury Didn’t Hesitate To Tell Daniel Dubois Who….

 Riyadh Season, which is a series of entertainment, cultural, and sporting events held in the Saudi Arabian capital, has helped raise the profile of the city of Riyadh and the nation of Saudi Arabia as a whole in recent years. Riyadh Season, first introduced in 2019, typically runs from October through to March, with events and experiences dispersed into ‘zones’ that now include the likes of Kingdom Arena, Boulevard City, Boulevard World, Riyadh Zoo and Wonder Garden. The inaugural edition of Riyadh Season proved to be a huge success, resulting in a sizable increase in tourism, with 11 million people visiting Riyadh during the 66-day period. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority also estimated that the combined 2019 Season events generated SAR 6 billion in revenue. Riyadh Season continues to expand and grow each year, and the 2024 edition is proving to be the biggest and best yet.

The city of Riyadh is situated at the centre of the Arabian peninsula and is not only the capital but also the largest city in Saudi Arabia. With a population of over 7 million, it is a bustling metropolis that offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors. Riyadh holds a significant position as the cultural capital of Saudi Arabia, boasting a rich history and heritage that dates back centuries, but if you’re looking for a luxury city break or to take in an event or show, Riyadh definitely ticks all those boxes too these days.

Anthony joshua

Riyadh is home to some of Saudi Arabia’s most extraordinary sites of natural and historical beauty and is a must-visit destination for any cultural enthusiast, with the added benefit of numerous art galleries and historical centres to explore. While Riyadh is known for its rich history, it is also a city of modern architecture. The cityscape is filled with stunning contemporary buildings and structures that showcase the country’s commitment to innovation and development. Riyadh is also the perfect location for shopping addicts. The city is home to numerous modern malls and traditional souks where you can find everything from luxury brands to local handicrafts. Riyadh has it all, whether you’re travelling to Riyadh for a standout event, like Usyk v Tyson 2, travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business.

READ MORE :Next: Anthony Joshua curiously head up To Face One Heavyweight Next But….

Let GOAL bring you everything you need to know to plan your weekend boxing trip to Riyadh for Usyk vs Fury 2, from where to stay, where to eat, and how to buy flights.

Flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh is served by King Khalid International Airport, which HRH King Fahd opened on 16 November 1983. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and its partner airlines run numerous regular flights to Riyadh from all over the globe.

Exploring and planning your route to Riyadh via Etihad Airways is the best option, allowing you to compare prices and flight times and find the best option for you.

Tickets to Usyk vs Fury 2

Demand for tickets to Reignited 2: Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury has obviously been very high, but tickets are still available, ranging from 50-1000 SAR ($20-250 / £10-200). For the latest ticket news and availability, go to Webook, the official ticketing platform for Riyadh Season events.

tyson fury, oleksandr usyk

The Usyk v Fury undercard is due to get underway at 10 pm local Riyadh time (2 pm ET / 7 pm GMT), with main event ring walks commencing at approximately 2 am Sunday local time (6 pm ET / 11 pm GMT). Yet again, for a Riyadh Season event, it will deliver a thrilling undercard that includes the likes of Israil Madrimov v Serhii Bohachuk (super welterweight), Dennis McCann v Peter McGrail (super bantamweight) and Isaac Lowe v Lee McGregor (featherweight).

Not Oleksandr Usyk or him : Tyson Fury names ‘most talented heavyweight in the world by far’ – and it’s not Oleksandr Usyk or him

Tyson Fury believes Jared Anderson is still the most talented heavyweight in the world despite falling to defeat in his last outing.

‘The Gypsy King’ previously branded Anderson the ‘heir to his throne’ after sharing some rounds with him in the gym

But Anderson looked a long way off the finished article as he was battered from pillar to post by Martin Bakole in August en route to a crushing fifth-round knockout loss.

The devastating defeat has seen his stock fall considerably, however, Fury still has faith in the young American.

“I would also like to see Jared Anderson back in the mix,” Fury told the Pound for Pound Podcast.

“The young big baby. Now, for me, he’s the most talented heavyweight in the world by far.

“But coming off his last fight, he had a knockout loss, so talent sometimes doesn’t cut it if you are rushed into fights you are not ready for.

“He fought this guy called Martin Bakole, who is an absolute seasoned man, 30 years old, in the prime of his life, as strong as a rhinoceros.

“And he goes in there with a 24-year-old kid, who has had 17 tomato cans and has come through them with flying colours.

“But he wasn’t ready for that fight, maybe five or six more fights, a year or so away from that.

“It’s put him back a long way now and that does a lot for a fighter’s confidence but I’d like to see him back in the ring as well.”

Fury is set to run it back with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 after suffering the first setback of his professional career in May at the hands of the Ukrainian.

Both men will only be fighting for three of the major sanctioning body belts after Usyk was stripped of the IBF strap due to his contractual obligation to give Fury a second fight.

This meant he wasn’t able to box IBF mandatory Daniel Dubois, who was subsequently upgraded from interim to full world champion as a result.

While Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas insists a fight with Dubois for the final piece of the undisputed puzzle is the only challenge left for his client if he beats Fury again, the Mancunian is angling for a trilogy.

“When I win this fight with Usyk, then there has to be a third fight,” he added.

READ MORE : Michael Sprott was blasted out by Anthony Joshua inside the opening round but…

“There has to be because if you win one and I win one, there has to be a third fight.

“Regardless of who won the second one there has to be a third fight to see who is the best out of us two.

tyson fury, oleksandr usyk

“And then after, next year maybe February or March, then I’ll look for the winner of the rematch between AJ (Anthony Joshua) and Dubois.”

Tyson Fury Makes Huge U-Turn On Result Of First Oleksandr Usyk Fight

Tyson Fury has seemingly changed his mind when it comes to his first encounter with Oleksandr Usyk.

Tyson Fury will do battle with his heavyweight rival Usyk again in a highly-anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 21 December

‘The Gypsy King’ came up short in their first meeting, suffering a razor-thin split decision loss, as Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years.

In the immediate aftermath, Fury disagreed with the verdict, claiming that he only gave Usyk four rounds of the fight.

“I’ve watched the fight back lots of times and still got the same answer, I thought I won the fight, I thought I did enough. One of the judges had me winning by a round, one had him winning by a round and that was the final decision, so it was what it was. There is no good in crying over spilt milk, it’s done now. I believe everything happens for a reason.

READ MORE : Tyson Fury Trainer Andy Lee Has Now Revealed His Honest….

I thought I boxed the head right off him for most of the rounds. He landed a good punch in round 8 and busted my noise and in round 9 he had a 10-8 round so that’s two and I give him round 10, but other than that I didn’t give him any other rounds. I give him 4 rounds in the fight.”

Fury appears to have had a change of heart though, as during the launch press conference to officially announce the rematch with Usyk, he conceded that Usyk won ‘fair and square’.

“Last time in May it was a fantastic fight, Oleksandr won the fight fair and square.

Anthony joshua

“It wasn’t my time to win or else the all mighty would have given me the victory. I’m very happy that Usyk got the decision because God’s timing is not late, it’s not imperfect, it’s perfection.

“So that was meant to be, and we’ll find out what’s meant to be on December 21.”

Fury has also shared his thoughts on both Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, and has made a bold prediction for the potential rematch.

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his world heavyweight championship belts against Tyson Fury on 21 December after winning their first fight via split decision earlier this year.

Anthony Crolla has suggested that Tyson Fury’s corner needs to be ‘addressed’ ahead of his highly anticipated heavyweight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk later this year.

In May, the Ukrainian fighter made history by becoming the first fighter to defeat ‘The Gypsy King’ in a professional fight after the 37-year-old secured a split-decision victory in Riyadh. They will now face off again on 21 December.

Following their initial meeting, Fury’s corner, which includes his father, John, faced backlash after video footage revealed them advising Fury that he was leading and didn’t need to push for a stoppage. Ultimately, only one judge concurred, with the other two favouring Usyk.

Since then, there have been numerous calls for Tyson to replace his father ahead of the rematch. Peter Fury, who coached his nephew to his first world title win against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, acknowledged that too many voices were in the corner after the fight.

In a conversation with Freebets.com, Crolla reflected on the first fight back in May and maintained that Fury is ‘very confident’ about the rematch. “He’s looking really well, he’s speaking really well, seems on it, very confident,” he stated.

“You never know with Tyson. He comes out with some mad stuff, but it genuinely looks like he is in a great place.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Another tough one, but he more or less had the fight won last time at the halfway stage.

READ MORE : ‘No, No, No!” Tyson Fury Has Now Completely Ruled Out….

“I think he’ll target Usyk’s body a bit more this time. He’s got a great chance of putting it right, but Usyk finds a way to win; his adaptability is unbelievable.

“After the first fight, I’d put Usyk as favourite but wouldn’t be surprised if Tyson avenges it.”

Discussing potential changes Fury might implement for the rematch, Crolla mentioned that Fury’s corner could use some adjustments. “A few adjustments to make,” he said. “(Tyson) got a lot of stick last time, but I don’t know how much it affects Tyson because he is that kind of character; I think he does a lot of thinking for himself.”

“The corner certainly needs addressing; I’m a big believer of one voice in the corner, one clear voice, so we’ll see, but they’ll be the kinds of adjustments he’ll make.”

tyson fury

Despite this, earlier in the month, the 36-year-old boxer maintained that no significant changes would be made for the rematch. In a conversation with Paul Dempsey before the release of the new boxing game, ‘Undisputed’, Fury was asked how long he was spending on tactical planning for his second bout with Usyk.

“Not much time,” he responded. “I know what I’ve got to do, nothing drastic. People can say, ‘I want to change trainers, or I’ll blame it on my conditioning coach, or I’ll blame it on the cook, or I’ll blame it on the mouse next door.’ Same team, same everything. I know what I’ve got to do.”

He further commented: “I thought I won the fight last time. I gave him – me boxing all my life and watching boxing my whole career – I gave him rounds eight, nine and ten, and round nine was a 10-8.

“So that’s what I gave him out of the fight, but obviously, the judges saw it a bit differently; a couple of them did. One of them had me winning. That’s what it was. It was as close as it can be.”

“I want to finish him off.” Dubois expressed his desire for a rematch with Usyk

IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has expressed his desire for a rematch against WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Quote: “We’ve got unfinished business. I want to get it right. I want to do it properly and finish him off. It would be a great unification fight. It would be massive,” Dubois told Box Nation.

Reminder: In August 2023, Oleksandr Usyk knocked out Dubois in the 9th round.

Dubois is eligible for a voluntary title defense until April 22. He can choose any opponent from the top 15 of the federation’s rankings for his next bout.

READ MORE : ‘No. 1 priority’ – Eddie Hearn : Anthony Joshua v Deontay Wilder a ‘fascinating…

Among the most likely contenders is his former opponent, Anthony Joshua, who currently ranks eighth in the standings.

Incidentally, Turki Alalshikh recently announced the date for the Dubois-Joshua rematch.

Tyson Fury Trainer Andy Lee Has Now Revealed His Honest Usyk Scorecard After Rewatching Fight

Tyson Fury suffered his first career defeat back in May when he was outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk.

The two battled it out for the undisputed heavyweight crown and it was the Ukrainian who left the ring with the belts via a split decision on the scorecards.

Tyson Fury believes he won the fight and should have had his hand raised, claiming he only gave Usyk three rounds, one of which was a 10-8.

Andy Lee, who is a part of Fury’s training team and was in the corner that night has told IFLTV that the fight was close having rewatched it for the first time

And when told by Gareth A Davies for talkSPORT boxing that he had scored it 115-113 to Usyk, Lee agreed with that assessment, but said he thought it could have been a draw.

“[I saw it] somewhere along those lines, similar, Tyson cruising up to round nine, then he takes that punch, shows unbelievable courage and bravery to get through it and then sees out the next few rounds then almost wins the last round or two, so it was close.

I thought it could have been a draw but no arguments with Usyk getting the decision.”

Lee went on reveal the impact on Fury’s conditioning having not sparred during camp due to fears that the cut that delayed the original fight date would reopen.

READ MORE : Usyk Rates The Power Of Anthony Joshua And Tyson Fury After Beating Both: “I Will Not Hide It”…

Fights are won and lost in the ring but they are also won and lost in the training and preparation and because of the rearrangement due to the cut then Tyson couldn’t spar, it takes that conditioning and sharpness away and that ability to concentrate and stay ready and sustain attacks. When Tyson had success he had to ease off and back away and look to rest and rebuild his energy, and it encouraged Usyk to come forward.

How does he win it? He’ll be better conditioned, he’ll be fitter and he’ll be sharper and he’ll be able to sustain his attacks. Tyson can improve a lot from the first fight.”

Oleksandr Usyk has beaten five Brits in the last six years, the most notable being Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

JUST IN: How much Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will earn from heavyweight fight

After knocking out Tony Bellew in his last cruiserweight fight, the Ukrainian moved up to heavyweight in the hope of becoming undisputed in a second division.

He beat Derek Chisora before taking the unified titles from Joshua via unanimous decision and keeping hold of them in the rematch with a split decision.

A stoppage of Daniel Dubois served as his second defence before he scored another split decision win against Fury in their long-awaited undisputed clash.

Oleksandr Usyk AND Tyson Fury VS Daniel Dubois

Speaking at a press conference in his home country following the Joshua bout, Usyk said that one of Joshua’s punches ‘sent him to Elon Musk’ for a while before his fighting focus was re-established.

“There were quite tangible blows. You can see it on my face too. There was a cut when we hit our heads. Then a light blow from his jab broke an eyebrow, which was flooding my right eye with blood.

SEE MORE: Otto Wallin replaces Anthony Joshua in WBC rankings, Tyson Fury is new mandatory

“I will not hide that there were very sensitive blows to the chin, to the stomach, which sent me to Elon Musk for a while, but I quickly returned. In battle, adrenaline and emotions are so overwhelming that you feel it after the battle – pain, dizziness and everything else. In the ring, you are very focused on your actions.”

Joshua would typically be recognised as the bigger puncher when discussed with Fury, but speaking to the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast Usyk held ‘The Gypsy King’s power in high regard, too – particularly one uppercut.

TYSON FURY AND Derek Chisora

” I got uppercut you know, it’s like very pain. Hard pain. I feel maybe 10 seconds I say ‘hey, God, thank you, help me.’ I say to myself ‘hey Alex, move, move. If you stop, he’ll kill you.’”

His manager Egis Klimas then added what Usyk said to him about the uppercut after the fight.

“It was such a big pain I can explain only one thing, it felt like my tooth came out.”

What the Ukrainian felt was an old dental implant being impacted rather than the broken jaw Fury had claimed to have inflicted. After taking the best shots from Joshua, Dubois and Fury, Usyk still maintains that it was Chisora who hit him hardest.

He returns to the ring on December 21 to rematch Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

RELATED: Oleksandr Usyk’s coach won’t rule out MMA “wildcard option” after he retires Tyson Fury in rematch

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