Last May, Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to be crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. The two meet again on December 21, this time to determine the unified champion. The fight in Saudi Arabia airs on DAZN PPV worldwide.
Usyk (22-0) is a two-division undisputed champion. The Ukrainian is 6-0 at heavyweight after dominating at the cruiserweight level. He beat Anthony Joshua twice to hold heavyweight gold and beat Fury via split decision to hold all the gold.
“It continues, the 13th round, because I feel like this. Tyson Fury had a chance [to hurt me] in the sixth round, maybe the seventh round, maybe 12th, 11th, first, second,” Usyk told Sky Sports. “But Tyson did not do it. It’s just talk. Tyson said I had the chance. Yeah, no problem. We have a second fight, I’ll try.”
WATCH: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 on DAZN
Fury (34-1-1) made himself known when he beat the mighty Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to hold world gold. He later dealt with drug, alcohol, and mental health issues that required him to be away from the sport. “The Gypsy King” returned with a bang, beating Deontay Wilder in a trilogy to win the WBC heavyweight title.
The Brit suffered the first loss of his career against Usyk, getting knocked down late in the fight. Usyk couldn’t finish the job, and Fury used that to compare him to other hard-hitting fighters. Despite the knockdown, he believes the effort from the first fight benefits him in the rematch.
“I’ll speak brutally because I’ve fought both men,” Fury told The Guardian. “Both are good fighters, but when you’re in the ring with a prime Deontay Wilder, with his 42 KOs, you’re in trouble whether it’s round one or round 12 with two seconds to go. One mistake, it’s game over. With Usyk, I don’t feel that much terror. There’s no fear.
“After he hit me in round nine, he caught me with a few free shots and didn’t knock me down. If I’d have had him in that position, I’d have knocked him out. If I’d have been in that position with Daniel Dubois, I’d have been knocked out cold. So he’s a good boxer and can punch hard, but one man can switch you off like a TV, and one man can hit you and hurt you and try to wear you down.”
The Sporting News looks at the odds for this fight and makes a final prediction.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 betting odds
Per Bet MGM, Oleksandr Usyk is the -125 favorite, while Tyson Fury is the +125 underdog.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 betting trends
Via Bet MGM:
- Usyk via KO/TKO: +275
- Usyk via decision: +200
- Fury via KO/TKO: +275
- Fury via decision: +350
- Draw: +1200
MORE: How to bet on combat sports
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 prediction, best bets
We must reflect on the past before we can look towards the future. Here is your first fight breakdown, per CompuBox and Boxing Scene.
The first three rounds saw Fury hold a 25-14 advantage in jabs landed while Usyk led 21-12 in power punches. Fury still had the edge in jabs in the end (62 compared to 48), but Usyk had a better accuracy mark (32.7% compared to 21.7%). Usyk (122) and Fury (95) both landed for power, but the former (46.9%) still had the better accuracy mark (45.2% for Fury).
Fury landed over 20 strikes twice and single-digit shots three times, while Usyk landed single-digit shots once. Usyk’s 170 total strikes landed were the most by a Fury opponent.
We go from the then to the now.
Usyk ranks tenth among active fighters in +/- at 7.4. Fury ranks right behind him, at heavyweight only, at 1.3. Usyk ranks seventh (46.7) in average total punches thrown per round and tenth in punches landed (13.5). Fury ranks ninth (44.5) in punches thrown. The Ukrainian and Brit rank first (25.7) and second (24.1) in jabs thrown per round at the heavyweight level and third (4.8) and fourth (4.2) in jabs landed.
MORE: How much will Usyk and Fury make for boxing rematch?
Fury has an edge when it comes to the fewest landed punches (7.2) per round by an opponent compared to Usyk (9.2). Overall, the latter has high stats for all opponent connect percentage marks. If Fury can be patient and strike at the right time, he can connect and hurt Usyk.
However, Usyk will work around the ring to try to avoid key blows.
Usyk looked like a complete fighter towards the latter half of the first fight, culminating with a knockdown in the ninth round. Still, he couldn’t finish Fury. On the other side, Fury couldn’t figure Usyk out.
Fury’s mental mindset, from losing his first fight to internal family issues, could be in play, either negatively affecting or motivating him. Fury should come out the more aggressive fighter this time out. It is up to Usyk to adapt and play it safe while landing when it matters most. He must cut down opportunities from Fury, including uppercuts.
Usyk earned a split decision win in cards that were considered questionable at best. Many within boxing, including Turki Alalshikh, would love to see a trilogy. In this case, it is Usyk against the world. He must have a convincing one-sided performance to earn a win if the fight goes the distance.
It is believed Usyk can knock Fury down again, but the fight is destined to make it to the end. A Fury win is likely, but Usyk should repeat, following a clinic-like performance later in the fight, this time pulling away with a unanimous decision win.
Sporting News prediction: Usyk via unanimous decision
