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Fury vs Usyk 2 LIVE: Latest updates and results from heavyweight title rematch
The biggest rematch of the year has arrived, as Tyson Fury bids to avenge his first loss – against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is today, as the Briton aims to claim the unified heavyweight titles – seven months after suffering his first professional loss, against the Ukrainian.
In May, Usyk won a split decision against Fury to become the division’s first undisputed champion in 24 years. Now, the pair return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Usyk defends the gold against the “Gypsy King” – minus the IBF belt, which he vacated in spring.
Fury fought impressively in May, leading the fight after the midway stage, but a phenomenal rally from Usyk secured victory, keeping the former cruiserweight king unbeaten. Usyk, 37, even came close to stopping Fury, 36, in round nine, and will take great confidence from that in the rematch.
The pre-fight press conference brought a ridiculous, 12-minute face-off between Fury and Usyk, who both refused to back down. There was a much shorter face-off at Friday’s weigh-in, after both boxers tipped the scales at career-heaviest weights, and there is now a dispute over Fury’s beard after Usky’s camp flagged it as a potential concern.
Follow all the build-up to Usyk vs Fury 2, with ring walks expected at 10.15pm GMT tonight, below. You can watch the fight live on DAZN this weekend. (We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.)
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE
We’re finally ready for the weigh-ins! A lengthy introduction, sponsors and broadcasters announced - but now we get going with the undercard, starting with Mohammad Alakel vs Joshua Ocampo (super-featherweight).
Ocampo weighs in at 133.4lb/60.5kg. Alakel in at 134.1lb/60.8kg.
Mohamed Alakel is 24 hours from his second professional fight. “The hard work is done, it’s time to have fun,” he says.
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE
The weigh-in is finally upon us. A reminder of the weights from the first fight:
Fury tipped the scales at 18.7st (262lb), while Usyk – a former undisputed cruiserweight champion – weighed in at 15.9st (223lb), slightly surpassing his previous career-high weight.
Fury has vowed to come in even heavier this time, though. Perhaps closer to 20st (280lb).
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
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Main-event prize money
Reports suggested that the overall purse for the first fight was around $150m (£116m), with Fury taking roughly 70 per cent of that.
For the rematch, the purse is reported to be closer to $191m (£150m), and while the split has not been disclosed, Usyk should earn a greater percentage than he did in May – as the A-side this time around.
How much prize money will Fury and Usyk earn in title rematch?
The heavyweights run it back after Usyk handed Fury his first professional loss to become the undisputed champion in Riyadh
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Did judges score first fight correctly?
In May, we looked at the scorecards from Fury vs Usyk 1, to see if the judges got it right.
Here’s what we thought, including how we scored the bout:
Fury vs Usyk official scorecards: Did the judges get it right in Riyadh?
Usyk beat Fury via split decision – 115-112, 113-114, 114-113 – but did the judges get it right?
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: John Fury axed from son’s corner team
The big news from Wednesday’s open workouts was that Tyson Fury’s father, John, will apparently not be in the “Gypsy King”’s corner on Saturday.
Sugarhill Steward, Fury’s head coach, said the former champion’s corner team would consist of himself, Andy Lee, and a cutman.
In May, as Fury lost to Usyk on points, it was widely thought that the Briton had too many voices in his corner. But John Fury specifically came under criticism for what was deemed weak advice to his son.
Furthermore, John Fury headbutted a member of Usyk’s team during fight week in May, cutting his own head in the process.
We’ll find out tomorrow if Steward was telling the truth, or if he’s misleading us...
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Ruling made on Briton’s beard
Fury will reportedly not have to trim his beard for his rematch with Usyk this weekend.
Fury, who claimed he cut himself off from his family during an intense training camp, has sported a long beard this week, as he aims to avenge his sole professional loss – a split decision against Usyk in May. That result kept Usyk unbeaten and saw him crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years.
And ahead of Saturday’s second meeting in Riyadh, where Usyk defends the unified belts this time, the Ukrainian flagged Fury’s beard as a potential concern.
“It is interesting,” Sky Sports’s Andy Scott said on Friday (20 December). “[Fury] is calling it ‘beast mode’, it’s very much a camp mentality; he’s grown out the beard [in] a hard training camp.
“During the discussions, it was flagged by team Usyk. ‘Will Tyson Fury be required to trim that beard?’, presumably because it acts as a cushion.
“The commission ruled ‘no’, because – as it is – there are no specified rules. They want a trim and neat beard, so they don’t want a sharp beard that you could use to rub on your [opponent’s] face and aggravate a cut, and obviously they don’t want something that is too extreme.
“But they were quite happy with that beard, and this is not stating the obvious but: it’s not gonna grow [much] overnight! So, it is a relief that it isn’t gonna become a talking point, but it is worth flagging.”
More here:
Ruling made on Tyson Fury’s beard after Oleksandr Usyk’s team raises concern
Fury has sported a long beard this week, having reportedly cut off his family during an intense training camp
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Crucial moment that sparked comeback to seal destiny
In their first fight, round six looked like the beginning of the end for Usyk, who was wincing after everybody shot from Fury, who then made those clever switches to attack the head with the right uppercut.
At one point, Usyk was staggering perhaps as badly as he ever has. But then the 37-year-old, as he tends to, began to motor as the bout entered its second half, building momentum and narrowing the deficit.
And then came the fateful moment. In the ninth frame, Usyk – backing Fury up to the ropes and squaring his feet to open up the southpaw left hook – pummelled the Briton. The towering Fury was now teetering, stumbling and swaying across the ring, devoid of his senses. He was arguably saved by a strange standing count from the referee, before the bell sounded. It was a stunning visual and a moment that could have proven controversial.
But Usyk did what was crucial: He kept pressuring Fury, forcing the Briton to focus on defence. With that, Usyk arguably took the final few rounds to complete a remarkable comeback.
The scorecards threatened to deny him his destiny, as so many numbers have done to so many deserving boxers over the decades. But mercifully the judges, between them, got the decision right – just.
Report from Riyadh on the night of Usyk vs Fury 1:
Usyk and the crucial moment that sparked comeback to beat Fury and seal destiny
Fury was forced to take a count in the ninth round of a classic, as Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Anthony Joshua predicts close fight
Story here after Anthony Joshua makes his prediction for tomorrow night’s huge rematch:
Anthony Joshua makes prediction for who will ‘edge’ Fury vs Usyk rematch
‘AJ’ has lost to Usyk on points twice, and he has long been linked to a fight with Fury
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Al-Sheikh drops hint on Joshua-Dubois 2
Anthony Joshua may not engage in a risky rematch with Daniel Dubois after all, according to Saudi adviser Turki Al-Sheikh.
In September, Dubois dropped Joshua three times en route to a fifth-round knockout win, retaining the IBF heavyweight belt against his fellow Briton.
Talk quickly turned to a rematch of the Wembley showdown, but Dubois has since been paired with Joseph Parker, who will challenge the 27-year-old in Riyadh in February.
When Al-Sheikh was asked about Joshua vs Dubois 2 on Thursday, he told iFL TV: “Of course I want to see it again, but I don’t think it will happen again.”
Joshua’s other main option for his next bout is a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury, yet – as ever – there are complications there.
Fury, who challenges Oleksandr Usyk for the unified titles tomorrow, is contracted for a trilogy fight with the Ukrainian, 37, if he emerges victorious in Riyadh.
So, Joshua faces an uncertain 2025. More here:
Turki Al-Sheikh drops hint on Anthony Joshua’s decision over Daniel Dubois rematch
Dubois, who knocked out Joshua in September, is set to box Joseph Parker next – but what of ‘AJ’?
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and weigh-in LIVE: Camps divided over judges after last-minute issue
There will be a late change to the judging panel for Fury’s rematch with Usyk, with one judge withdrawing due to illness – a matter that has led to a dispute between the fighters’ camps.
Tomorrow’s rematch, for the unified heavyweight titles, is set to be scored by US judge Pat Morley and Puerto Rico’s Gerardo Martinez, who were set to be joined by Fernando Barbosa.
But Barbosa withdrew due to illness late on Thursday, before he could fly to Riyadh.
Keith Idec reported that the American will be replaced by compatriot Steve Weisfeld, who made the journey to Saudi Arabia on Thursday night. But Sky Sports said another official has also made the trip to Riyadh, and that Fury and Usyk’s teams are split on which judge should replace Barbosa.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has reportedly suggested that a coin toss should settle the issue, but the commission must find a way to resolve the matter.
More here:
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk camps divided over judges after last-minute issue
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk square off again on Saturday, seven months after the Ukrainian beat the Briton via split decision
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