Tyson Fury details key change in search of knockout in Oleksandr Usyk rematch
Fury labelled Usyk a ‘middleweight’ ahead of their first meeting, yet the Ukrainian came close to stopping the Briton in round nine
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Your support makes all the difference.Tyson Fury expects to be more than a stone heavier against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday than he was in May.
Ahead of their first fight, which Usyk won via split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion, Fury tipped the scales at 18.7st (262lb).
Meanwhile, Usyk – a former undisputed cruiserweight champion – weighed in at 15.9st (223lb), slightly surpassing his previous career-high weight.
But ahead of Saturday’s rematch for the unified belts, after Usyk vacated the IBF title in spring, Fury will be coming in even heavier.
“[I’m] about 20st (280lb) at the moment, just over,” Fury told Sky Sports, before saying it will give him “more power in the punches”.
When asked whether his best performances have come at heavier weights, the Briton added: “I think so, yeah. When a 20st man hits you on the jaw, compared to a man at 17st, it’s a bit different for sure.
“I’m gonna beat him that bad on Saturday, he ain’t gonna want a rematch – but listen, I think people do a lot of stuff for a right few quid, don’t they? So, crazier things have happened.”
Fury, 36, was referencing the fact that a trilogy bout is expected if the former champion can beat Usyk, 37, in Riyadh, where they first fought.
Usyk’s victory over Fury in May kept him unbeaten, while the “Gypsy King” suffered a professional loss for the first time.
Fury, however, will take confidence from his record in rematches. After his controversial draw with Deontay Wilder in 2018 – which most observers felt Fury had won – he stopped the American in their second and third bouts.
Fury also stopped Derek Chisora in two rematches after beating his compatriot on points in 2011, and knocked out John McDermott after winning their first fight via decision.
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