BOXING
Fury promises knockout, Usyk knows a secret
While the Gypsy King is as brash as ever, promising a knockout in their rematch, the White Rabbit is non-plussed, insisting that he has Tyson Fury figured out.
As the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk inches closer, both fighters are making bold declarations. Fury, still smarting from his first professional loss to Usyk in May, is adamant about delivering a knockout this time. “I’m going to knock him out,” he proclaimed during the Grand Arrivals. “I’ll cook rabbit in his kitchen.”
Usyk, ever the enigma, hints at a new strategy. “It’ll be a great fight. I feel I’ll win,” he stated. “Maybe we have a new [plan], because I worked. We know a little bit because we watched the fight. I have a new secret.”
In their first encounter, Usyk’s agility and tactical prowess neutralized Fury’s mauling tactics, leading to a split-decision victory that crowned him the first, and only, undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Fury’s preparation for the rematch has been intense, with reports suggesting he may have overtrained. His gaunt appearance at the Grand Arrivals has raised eyebrows, leading to speculation about his physical condition. The rigorous training camp, dubbed “Prison,” included sparring with hard punchers like Moses Itauma, which might have taken a toll on the 36-year-old fighter.
Adding intrigue to the rematch is the introduction of an experimental fourth judge using artificial intelligence. Announced by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, this AI judge will evaluate the fight alongside the traditional three judges, aiming to reduce bias and human error in scoring. However, its scores will not affect the official result.
The rematch is set to take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, with the main event expected to start around 6 p.m. Eastern time.
As the fight night approaches, the boxing world watches with bated breath. Will Fury’s promise of a knockout come to fruition, or will Usyk’s “secret” plan secure his reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion? Only time will tell.
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