OPINION… Tyson Fury Might Have Subtly Admitted Defeat

Love him or loathe him, there’s one thing every fight fan can agree on, and that’s Tyson Fury brings some great spectacle to boxing. 

Whether it’s his press conference antics, his social media rants and ramblings or his general opinions on the fight game, you know that where Tyson Fury goes, the media will surely follow. You’re never far from a Fury soundbite. 

Until now, it seems. 

Having lost his WBC belt to Oleksandr Usyk back in May, Tyson Fury has been uncharacteristically quiet. It seems like he knows he can’t get at Usyk with his usual tactics, so he’s not been as vocal about the fight. If you compare and contrast the two build ups, they couldn’t be more different. 

In the run up to the May fight, Tyson Fury was his usual self. He repeatedly labelled Usyk a ‘sausage’, a ‘rabbit’ and laughed at Usyk’s earrings – a homage to his warrior Cossack heritage. Despite the fact that it washed off Usyk, Fury carried on with the jibes.

Any time there was a meeting between the two, or a microphone was anywhere near Tyson Fury, it was the same barrage. It worked against every other opponent, but not Usyk. His mental strength and relaxed demeanour didn’t change for a second in the fight build up. Usyk has been on the big stage plenty of times. He had a glittering amateur career. He won the Olympics, he’s faced Joshua twice. This was just another event – Fury’s antics wouldn’t get to him.

And before long, Tyson Fury knew it. 

At the weigh in, Fury didn’t even turn to do the face off with Usyk. It was a subtle clue, yet it screamed a message. Fury is an expert in getting under an opponent’s skin in the build up to the fight, but not this time. It hadn’t worked, and Fury was in unfamiliar territory against a foe he’d expected to walk all over.

Rematch Build Up

Humbled after losing to Usyk, this time around the Gypsy King has taken a completely different approach.

Gone are the insults, the jibes and the promises of what he’s going to do in the ring. Instead, he’s been uncharacteristically quiet, with only the occasional message of a prediction he’ll win the rematch. His social media has been strangely quiet as well.

In fact, when the two met face to face at the AJ vs Dubois fight, Fury was incredibly complimentary to Usyk, telling the Ukranian how he’d taught both of them a boxing lesson. It was a rare show of deference by Fury – and a show of the utmost respect to an upcoming opponent. 

Throughout his entire career, we’ve never seen that from Fury…

Tyson Fury Quiet – A Sign of Things to Come?

Psychologists will say that a lot of communication is non-verbal. If we take this as fact, what can we potentially read into Fury’s state of mind in the build up?

Classically, he’d have started the mind games long before now. We’d already be hearing how he’s a fighting man, and who he’d be beating after Usyk. We’d be hearing the personal jibes, how the rest of the division are bums, and how he’s the greatest of all time. 

But there hasn’t been any of that. 

There’s been respect shown to Usyk. There’s been a remarkable quiet (compared to usual) on social media. We haven’t heard from John Fury (Tyson’s Dad) about the rematch, and even Frank Warren hasn’t said much.

It would appear the Fury team, and most importantly Tyson himself, aren’t especially confident in the build up this time. 

Should we expect the same result on December 21st? I think so…

For more Hook’d Boxing content on Usyk Fury 2, click here…

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OPINION – Why I Think Usyk Fury 2 Will be the Same Outcome

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