OPINION: Here’s Why I Think Usyk Fury 2 Will Be More of the Same

I’ve got a strong feeling that Usyk Fury 2 will play out much like the first fight. As the highly anticipated rematch approaches, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether Fury can change the narrative. In their first bout, Usyk showcased a level of skill and strategy that gave Fury real problems, and it begs the question: will the rematch be more of the same?

Here’s the reason I think the titles will be staying in Ukraine following Usyk Fury 2…

Usyk’s Superior Skill Set

Usyk’s skill set is truly world-class. He’s faster, slicker, and trickier than Fury, and his ring craft is on another level. Usyk’s footwork, speed, and movement make him a difficult puzzle for any heavyweight to solve. 

While Fury is an exceptional technical boxer himself, with a strong ability to adapt, Usyk’s skill set is one of the best in the sport. In their first fight, Usyk’s speed and precise angles consistently exposed Fury’s defences, leaving the bigger man struggling to impose his usual dominance. Being smaller, he punches from different angles. As a southpaw, they pose another problem.

While Fury might have a size and power advantage, Usyk’s ring IQ is unmatched. His ability to feint, move in and out of range, and counter with surgical precision all but neutralised Fury’s technical strengths. For Fury, who’s used to dominating his opponents with size and mind games, this was unfamiliar territory.

Mind Games Don’t Work on Usyk

Fury’s infamous mind games are a staple of his pre-fight strategy. He has a knack for getting into the heads of his opponents, unsettling them before they even step into the ring. From Deontay Wilder to Wladimir Klitschko, Fury has used psychological warfare to create doubt and chaos in his opponents’ minds.

But Usyk? He’s immune. 

In the build-up to their first fight, Usyk remained calm and composed, completely unbothered by Fury’s antics. This cool-headedness makes Usyk an even more dangerous opponent for Fury. Without his mental edge, what else can Fury rely on? The Usyk Fury 2 build up will give us plenty to watch. Look for subtle clues – less bravado than usual, or over-the-top declarations of confidence.

Usyk Has Survived Fury’s Biggest Shots

In the first fight, Fury managed to land some solid punches, but they weren’t enough to significantly trouble Usyk. This has to be a concern for Fury – he landed some of his best shots, but Usyk took them and kept coming. 

Unlike Fury’s previous opponents, Usyk’s movement and defensive skills make him difficult to hit cleanly, and even when Fury landed, Usyk weathered the storm.

For a man who relies on his power and size to bully his opponents, Fury must be wondering what else he can throw at Usyk if his biggest punches weren’t enough to get the job done the first time around? In Usyk Fury 2, will Tyson be more defensive, knowing he’s vulnerable to an Usyk knockout? It’ll be an important part of the fight strategy.

Usyk Already Has the Win

There’s a psychological element to rematches, especially when the underdog emerges victorious in the first fight. Fury has never been the beaten man before in his career, and now he knows that Usyk has the ability to outbox him. Could this create a mental block for Fury ahead of Usyk Fury 2?

He’s usually the one walking into the ring with supreme confidence, knowing he has the edge. But this time, it’s Usyk who holds the cards, having already outpointed Fury. In fact, he almost knocked him out.

For a fighter as mentally sharp as Fury, the knowledge that Usyk has his number might weigh heavily on his mind, and it could influence how he approaches the rematch.

Lifestyle May Have Caught Up With Fury

Tyson Fury’s well-publicised lifestyle choices have always been a concern. His battles with weight gain, alcohol, and drug use have been well-documented, and though he’s come back from these lows to achieve greatness, they could finally be catching up with him. 

Fury didn’t look his sharpest against Francis Ngannou, and his performance in the first Usyk fight was far from his best.

In contrast, Usyk lives a disciplined, clean lifestyle. His training regimen is strict, his diet meticulous, and his focus unbreakable. Over time, these differences could become more apparent. If Fury’s body has started to feel the effects of years of inconsistent training and fluctuating weight, it might show even more in the rematch.

We haven’t seen or heard much from Tyson Fury ahead of Usyk Fury 2, so we don’t know how he’s been living in the meantime.

Fury Saved by the Ropes and the Ref

In the first fight, there were moments when Fury appeared to be in real trouble. On one occasion, it was the ropes and the intervention of the referee that arguably saved him from a knockdown or worse. Fury knows this, and it could play on his mind in the rematch.

Knowing that he was almost stopped by Usyk’s precise combinations, Fury may be more hesitant to engage in risky exchanges. If he becomes reluctant to take risks, it could give Usyk an even greater advantage in dictating the pace and flow of the fight.

What to Expect in Usyk Fury 2…

As Fury and Usyk prepare to meet for the second time, the outcome feels more uncertain than ever. Usyk’s superior speed, ring craft, and ability to remain unphased by Fury’s mind games make him an incredibly dangerous opponent. While Fury’s size, power, and technical ability cannot be dismissed, the first fight demonstrated that these attributes alone may not be enough to overcome Usyk’s elite skills.

If the rematch follows the same pattern, we may very well see more of the same, with Usyk once again out-boxing the bigger man and proving why he’s the most complete fighter in the heavyweight division.

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