Sam Sports

This year, Tyson Fury experienced his only defeat in his boxing career when he lost in a split decision to future Hall of Fame boxer Oleksandr Usyk. Since the decision was announced, Fury has consistently claimed he won the fight, but in many people’s eyes, including my own, it was clear: Fury lost that fight.

Now, the two are set for a rematch on December 21st this year in Saudi Arabia, raising the question: can Tyson Fury beat Oleksandr Usyk?

Fury’s recent fight against Francis Ngannou showed that his unbeaten record can indeed be challenged. Many, myself included, felt he lost that fight against Ngannou, sparking discussion about Ngannou’s boxing skills. However, that was quickly dismissed when Anthony Joshua knocked out Ngannou in just two rounds.

Fury didn’t box poorly against Usyk; rather, Usyk simply proved himself superior. In my view, Usyk will always have the edge. When Usyk faced Joshua for the first time, Joshua was clearly outclassed. UK pundits initially predicted Joshua would rebound as he did against Ruiz, but Usyk remains in my top three boxers globally (alongside Tank and Inoue), and with each fight, he seems to improve.

While some critics claimed Usyk might be past his prime after his bout with Dubois, that’s just the English media for you. I believe Usyk will only improve in the rematch against Fury. He now knows he can knock out Fury if necessary; Usyk’s fight IQ is unmatched (alongside Loma in my opinion). He adapts his strategy to secure victory, a quality Fury also possesses, though to a lesser extent. Watching a boxer of Fury’s size move so gracefully is a testament to his extraordinary talent, reminiscent of how he recovered in his first fight against Wilder.

Fury’s achievements speak for themselves, but he faces the best heavyweight boxer in my lifetime.