Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 fight predictions, odds, undercard, start time, expert picks, preview

In Might, Oleksandr Usyk accomplished his mission, defeating Tyson Fury by break up determination to turn into the primary undisputed heavyweight champion of the trendy four-belt period. On Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Usyk will search for a repeat efficiency when he rematches Fury, this time with three world titles on the road.

Usyk was stripped of the IBF championship for transferring forward together with his contractually obligated rematch with Fury, although the shortage of one of many 4 world titles from the primary assembly has completed nothing to decrease the joy or significance of this rematch.

The primary assembly was the primary time Fury had suffered defeat as an expert, having gone undefeated throughout 35 earlier bouts that additionally noticed him twice reign as world champion. Fury began that battle properly, utilizing his measurement and attain to maintain the a lot smaller Usyk at vary. Fury was so snug within the early rounds that he repeatedly danced and showboated, seemingly feeling he had the battle in hand.

Usyk was in a position to make the required changes because the battle wore on and never solely began to efficiently use his boxing expertise, but additionally scored a knockdown in Spherical 9. An ideal left hook landed on Fury and the next flurry from Usyk despatched Fury’s 6-foot-9 body stumbling into the nook the place it was dominated the ropes had held him up and thus counted as a knockdown.

That knockdown was the distinction between a break up determination win for Usyk and a break up draw, with one decide scoring the battle 114-113 Fury and two delivering Usyk scores of 115-112 and 114-113. With out the knockdown making for a 10-8 Usyk ninth spherical, that third card would have been 114-114.

“I’ve bought nothing to say aside from there’s going to be a complete lot of harm and ache on this battle, you watch,” Fury stated. “The speaking’s been completed. The primary battle, I talked, I joked, all my profession. This time I am severe, I will do some harm right here on Saturday night time. Watch me go to work.”

Usyk’s win ran his profession report to 22-0. Extra spectacular than his spotless report, Usyk has managed to go undisputed at two completely different weight courses.

“Now we simply have the efficiency. Talks, cameras, lights, sort of present. All the pieces goes to be happening Saturday night time on the twenty first,” Usyk stated on the remaining press convention. “Do not be afraid. I can’t depart you alone. See you on Saturday.”

Usyk ran by way of the cruiserweight division earlier than successful the World Boxing Tremendous Sequence in 2018 to unify all 4 world titles at 200 kilos. In October 2019, Usyk made the transfer to heavyweight with a win over Chazz Witherspoon. Two fights later, he’d defeated Anthony Joshua to seize the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles.

“Relating to the principle occasion, I’ve bought loads of historical past with Oleksandr Usyk, however I’m backing Tyson Fury. In fact, he is the Brit. Individuals ask me on a regular basis, “who’s going to win this battle?” and I’ve stated this: Oleksandr Usyk is an unbelievable fighter and it’ll take one thing extraordinary to beat him on Saturday night time. However, and I do know we have had our variations, Tyson Fury is able to extraordinary issues,” Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn stated. 

“His victory in opposition to Wladimir Klitschko in Germany, I watched that on a laptop computer in a resort in America, I assumed he had completely no likelihood. He gained each single spherical. When he fought Deontay Wilder in America, I assumed he had completely no likelihood. He was robbed within the first battle, he smashed him to items within the second battle. Two generational nice heavyweights, two credit to the game. Might God bless you each on Saturday night time, however most of all, I am unable to consider I am saying it, might Tyson Fury be victorious on Saturday night time for Britain and get the championship again.”

Now the 2 meet once more with legacy on the road. Can Fury make the required changes to take care of his early momentum from the primary battle or will Usyk once more conquer the enormous and show his place atop the heavyweight division?

The undercard was set to function a strong matchup between Serhii Bohachuk and Israil Madrimov at junior middleweight. Sadly, Madrimov was pressured to withdraw from the bout after affected by bronchitis throughout coaching camp. His subsequent look is predicted to be on the Feb. 22 card that includes Artur Beterbev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 in the principle occasion the place he’ll face one other high contender in Vergil Ortiz. As a substitute, Bohachuk will tackle Ismael Davis. 

Elsewhere on the cardboard, extra heavyweights give assist to the principle occasion. Rising teenage phenom Moses Itauma is again in motion when he takes on veteran Demsey McKean. The 19-year-old has thrilled in his early profession, scoring eight knockouts in 10 skilled fights. His final was most spectacular when he stopped veteran Mariusz Wach within the second spherical in July. He will get a sturdy veteran in McKean, who’s coming off the primary defeat of his professional profession when he was stopped by Filip Hrgovic in August.

Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the remainder of the undercard earlier than attending to a prediction and skilled choose on the principle occasion.

Usyk vs. Fury 2 battle card, odds

• Oleksandr Usyk (c) -140 vs. Tyson Fury +110, unified heavyweight titles
• Serhii Bohachuk -950 vs. Ismael Davis +600, junior middleweight
• Moses Itauma -1400 vs. Demsey McKean +750, heavyweights
• Johnny Fisher -1400 vs. Dave Allen +700, heavyweights
• Peter McGrail -450 vs. Rhys Edwards +320, junior featherweights
• Lee McGregor -190 vs. Isaac Lowe +150, featherweights

The place to observe Usyk vs. Fury 2

• Date: Dec. 21
• Location: Kingdom Area — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Begin time: 10 a.m. ET  (fundamental occasion ring walks round 5 p.m. ET)
• Easy methods to watch: DAZN PPV (Worth: $39.99)

Prediction

The picture of Fury reeling alongside the ropes as Usyk was on the verge of scoring a stoppage is difficult to shake from one’s thoughts. Usyk was so good over the second half of the battle that it erased what was an amazing early displaying from Fury. What Fury must handle is to construct that momentum with out letting Usyk ever get snug. The largest query heading into Saturday is whether or not Fury has developed a gameplan that may throw Usyk off, since Usyk discovered Fury halfway by way of the primary battle and by no means appeared again.

Fury has supposedly devoted himself to the craft in new and intense methods forward of his second shot at Usyk. Nonetheless, it is laborious to suppose that Fury can develop wrinkles a fighter of Usyk’s expertise cannot regulate to. Anticipate a battle which may not be as thrilling as the primary assembly, however that also produces some drama earlier than Usyk once more pulls away within the second half to retain his titles. Decide: Oleksandr Usyk through UD

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