Fury vs Usyk 2 predictions: Top fighters tip who will win heavyweight title rematch
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After Usyk handed Fury his first loss to become undisputed heavyweight champion, the pair run it back. Next weekend, Tyson Fury will aim to avenge his first-ever professional loss, as he fights Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh for the second time this year. In May, Usyk won a split decision over the Briton after coming close to stopping him in round nine, and the result crowned the Ukrainian as the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years.
![[Oleksandr Usyk (left) came close to stopping Tyson Fury in May]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/21/09/newFile.jpg)
It also kept him unbeaten, although he had to fight through adversity in the middle rounds to keep that perfect record intact. Since then, the 37-year-old has vacated the IBF belt, meaning only three of the four major titles are on the line in this rematch. Still, Fury, 36, will be highly motivated to level the score.
![[Fury led the fight at the midway point, and taunted Usyk during that spell]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/05/20/05/7b4e220e237a30f53e076aa154a59c97Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE2MjQxODEy-2.76230143.jpg)
But as the Saudi showdown edges nearer and predictions are made, opinions are split in the boxing world. Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, a former sparring partner of Fury, has faith in the Briton. “I feel like, in this fight, we’re going to see a version of Fury that we haven’t seen for a long time: a hungry Fury, [who knows he] can be beaten if he doesn’t perform well,” said the Australian.
![[Fury suffered a split-decision loss to Usyk in Riyadh, where they clash again on 21 December]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/23/20/4295e47c11e31fa6c0e02c8f7a56fca7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI5Nzg3NDAx-2.76233037.jpg)
“So, I feel like he’s going to be preparing the best he’s prepared in a long time, to win this fight. He knew his boxing IQ was better than a lot of those fighters that he’s been fighting; he relied on that. This one, he can’t rely on that natural ability. He needs to put in the hard work as well, and I feel like we’re going to see that.”.
