Lennox Lewis Shares Thoughts On Usyk-Fury Rematch – ‘It’s Going To Be A Banger’

December 13, 2024

1 month

Lennox Lewis has given his take on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch.

The rematch takes place on December 21 after Usyk won the first fight to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion by a split decision. Lewis knows what it takes to become undisputed since he was the last heavyweight champion before Usyk when he beat Evander Holyfield in 1999. The Usyk-Fury rematch is not for undisputed after the Ukrainian vacated his IBF Heavyweight Title. That belt is currently held by Daniel Dubois, who defended it successfully by stopping Anthony Joshua in his last fight. The winner will be in a position to fight for undisputed again.

Usyk dominated the first fight in the early rounds and at the back end of the fight. He almost stopped Fury in round nine, only for the referee to impose a standing eight count. The Ukrainian was attacking the body, outworking Fury, slowing down his opponent as he landed to the head. The Gypsy King’s best work came in the middle rounds, where he landed some shots to the body and some uppercuts, which got Usyk’s attention.

Usyk Vs. Fury

Fury came in lighter than usual, which took many by surprise as he tried to outbox Usyk. This raises questions about how Fury deals with the rematch. There is an argument that Fury will come in heavier in an attempt to exert his weight advantage on Usyk. He did this against Deontay Wilder in the second fight after their first bout ended in a draw. But that is easier said than done.

Anthony Joshua is a powerful combination puncher who failed to exert his physicality on Usyk in two fights. There is also a danger that if Fury comes forward, he could get countered. Usyk is known for being a master counter puncher, and if Fury continues to walk forward, he will have a bigger target to aim for. Fury also knows he cannot use the same tactics since he came up short. But Fury’s camp said there were some issues in the build-up for the first fight.

Fury suffered a cut heading into that training camp, which his coach, Andy Lee, said impacted his ability to spar. There were also suggestions that Fury had too many voices in the corner. He was joined by his lead trainer, SugarHill Steward, his assistant Andy Lee, and his father, John Fury. John was criticized after suggestions there were conflicting instructions. There are so many ways the rematch could pan out, which is why Lewis was looking forward to what could happen.

Lewis Reacts

“It’s going to be a tough fight for both guys. It’s going to be mentally tough, it’s going to be physically tough. They’re going to push each other on the mental basis far, they’re going to push each other physically far. Both guys want to win this fight…Both guys want something from this and it’s going to be a mental challenge and a physical challenge.

“I think it’s going to be a banger, it’s going to be a serious fight…one guy was more serious than the other guy (in the first fight) — you could say Tyson Fury lost that fight and Usyk won it. Now it’s a situation where they’re having another fight, Tyson Fury has to win that fight so he’s going to be more focused, he’s going to put a little bit more weight on to get through this fight and he’s a lot more serious,” Lewis said