Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to face off again this year after the Ukrainian rallied and handed the Brit his first loss.
The battle between the pair in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was worthy of the first undisputed heavyweight championship fight in over two decades, with Usyk starting well but momentum shifting to Fury in the middle rounds
The Brit was then stunned in the ninth by a relentless beating that saw him bounce of the ropes and around the ring before eventually falling into the corner and getting a count from the referee.
That knockdown helped Usyk win a close split decision and take home all four heavyweight belts. As per the contract, the rematch is set for December 21.
Derek Chisora has experience with both men having been Usyk’s second test in the top division after coming up from cruiserweight. He has faced Fury three times over his career, losing each time
The 40-year-old has previously advised his countryman to rediscover the same aggression he had back during his thrilling trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
“We need to get the old Tyson back. That mean guy. Right now Tyson’s just too soft. The Tyson we saw in Vegas? Bad ass.”
It’s a tactic that many feel worked for Chisora and led to Usyk singling him out in particular recently when asked which heavyweight hit him hardest, shunning Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Fury in favour of the Finchley fighter
Even despite the advice, Chisora this week told Seconds Out that Usyk will be the one who’s better when asked who wins the rematch.
“Oleksandr is gonna be better in the second fight, you’ll see.”
The Ukrainian believes he made mistakes in the ring that are there to be rectified, and Fury has said the same about his own ‘shortcoming.’ All of it makes for an intriguing rematch to come on December 21.
