Fury vs Usyk 2 Fight Preview

All eyes are on the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, December 21st, 2024 when Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury rematch for the WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight world titles. 

The big-hitting bout is expected to get underway at 22:30pm and the contest will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office, TNT Sport Box Office and DAZN pay-per-view. 

Oleksandr Usyk was awarded a split-decision victory over Tyson Fury in May and the Ukrainian took his record to 22-0. The Simferopol southpaw is a former undisputed cruiserweight king and the 37-year-old has moved to the top of the heavyweight division. 

The Cat has beaten Daniel Dubios, Derek Chisora, Fury and twice got the better of Anthony Joshua and Fury faces a formidable opponent on Saturday night. 

The Gypsy King has a record of 34-1-1, with the single defeat coming in his first bout against Usyk. 

The Morecambe man reached new levels when twice beating the previously undefeated Deontay Wilder and the 36-year-old will be looking to return to his best in Riyadh. 

Oleksandr Usyk to beat Tyson Fury @ 4/5

Usyk earned a split-decision victory over Fury in May, but the Ukrainian was far more dominant than the judges’ scorecards suggested.

The Cat had the Gypsy King on the canvas in round nine of the first Saudi showdown and, while Fury put in a spirited display, the British fighter was clearly second best on the night. 

Fury will need to improve to turn the tables on Usyk, but it’s tricky to see where the progress will come from at the age of 36. 

The Gypsy King is a 36-fight veteran, he was involved in three brutal and gruelling bouts against Wilder and a less than dedicated lifestyle isn’t going to extend Fury’s peak. 

It’s possible that the British fighter is in a pretty rapid decline and Fury’s performance when struggling past boxing debutant Francis Ngannou last year certainly doesn’t give any thought to the Gypsy King having much left in the tank. 

Usyk was a brilliant and undisputed cruiserweight champion and the Ukrainian is now dominating the big-hitting division. 

The Cat twice took care of Joshua in comfortable fashion and current IBF world champion Dubois also fell to the Simferopol southpaw.

Of course, the victory over Triple D came in controversial circumstances, but illegal blow aside, Usyk controlled and dominated a fighter who has since gone on to become an excellent world champion. 

Fury will need a career-best performance to turn the tables on the three-belt world champion on Saturday night and it’s unlikely that the Gypsy King will be able to reach a new peak in Riyadh.

Usyk looks a cracking bet to score a second Saudi victory over Fury. 

Oleksandr Usyk to win by stoppage @ 3/1 with bet365 

It’s worth remembering that Usyk had Fury on the floor when the pair met in May and, while the Ukrainian is not the biggest one-punch hitter in the heavyweight division, he has the skills, movement and punch variety to overwhelm any opponent. 

Dubois was stopped by Usyk, Joshua was fortunate to survive to the final bell and the Cat could carry a major knockout threat on Saturday night. 

The Gypsy King was on the floor in Riyadh in May, Fury was decked by Ngannou and the British boxer hit the canvas three times in three bouts against Wilder. 

There have been clear vulnerabilities to power throughout the Morecambe man’s career and the punch resistance may just have ebbed away from the Gypsy King. 

At 3/1, Usyk is good value to stop Fury and reign supreme in the heavyweight division.