Oleksandr Usyk Vs Tyson Fury 2 on Dec. 21



Usyk is a great boxer, a distinction he never gets enough of. Well, people say he’s too small to be a heavyweight. He’s too unpolished. He’s too wild.

 

As mentioned previously, I don’t like predicting rematches. The reason is that the two boxers have a past together. They know how the other moves around the ring, what punches hurt the most, what weaknesses one has in a situation, and so forth. The first fight was memorable because it was also the first fight for the undisputed Heavyweight championship in more than two decades. 

 

In the early rounds, Fury fought smart. He used his long guard to keep Usyk off balance and figure him out. It seemed like all he had to do was jab, jab, run, jab, jab run. But, the rounds he could have won got away from him because Usyk moved and landed sharp punches. He couldn't keep Usyk from hitting him with left hooks. All that while trying to keep up with Usyk’s superior footwork. That has always been Fury’s weakness. He’s too stationary and slow. He has succeeded because of his long guard and long jabs that keep other fighters off rhythm. He normally solved other fighters’ rhythms, but Usyk followed him throughout the rounds. This forced him to have a high punch output to prevent the Ukrainian fighter from attacking him.

 

Usyk instigated much of the action throughout 1-8, which made him somewhat predictable. He would throw a punch, get countered, and like Gargling, it was rinse and repeat; however, Usyk did enough in the first half to steal some rounds that could have gone to Fury. By pressing forward, it forced Fury to retreat and become defensive rather than offensive. 

 

Fury’s defensive tactics eventually wore himself off, leading until the 9th round when he became tired. By the 7th round, the fight was close enough to say anyone could have won it. Usyk hit him with a left hook that seemed like nothing to the average spectator. However, I believe that punch hurt him enough to have implications going to round 8. 

 

In the 8th round, Usyk turned it up a notch, moving, punching with volume, penetrating inside his opponent’s long guard. He landed some pretty significant punches that made Fury blow his nose several times. He won that round, putting victory within reach.

 

The 9th round was Fury's worst round. Bloodied, tired, and still hurt from the previous round, it became easier for him to get hit. He backed up, still blowing his nose. Then, late in the round, a hard left hook changed everything. For a second, it didn't bother him, but then it sent him back. He was then hit by a barrage of punches that forced the referee to call a standing eight count. 

 

I screamed, “Stop the fight!" Stop the fight!” 

 

When the ropes saved Fury from falling, that look in his eyes was frightening. It just didn’t seem he was completely there. The fight could have been stopped there and there would be no complaints. 

 

By the 11th round, Tyson Fury was in survival mode. In a wise move, he fought cautiously, which gave the rounds to the opponent, as Usyk pressed into action. The 12th round was pretty much the same as the 11th round: Tyson was cautious, trying to keep Usyk out of his way. Usyk, however, once again proved a nuisance. But that round could be given to either fighter. The Split Decision win by Usyk was a testament to his brilliance. He adjusted the rhythm by becoming a counterpuncher in the 8-9th round. He kept it working, knowing it worked. That was the difference maker. 

 

Readjustment is the key 

 

The question then becomes: which fighter will be able to adjust based on the first fight? The second fight will most likely be another clincher. But Usyk’s footwork and speed will still trouble Fury. Even with a high guard, he still wasn’t able to keep the Ukrainian from hitting him. 

 

To win, Tyson needs to become the aggressor because as the first fight proved, back peddling was disastrous for him as the fight progressed to the later rounds; however, if Usyk improves his footwork and readjusts to Fury’s adjustment, it would still leave Usyk with an advantage.

 

I expect Fury to be more mobile in the second fight. He may even be in the best shape of his career for this one.

 

The speed of Usyk’s punches made his punches sting a little more than Fury’s despite the size difference. The athletically gifted fighter is Usyk which leaves Fury at a huge disadvantage in that department. With all these considered, Usyk should be able to win another close fight against Fury. If Fury goes on the offensive, it would make it harder for Usyk because it would force him to back-pedal. And, throughout their first fight, it rarely happened. 

 

Usyk should win again by a close margin.