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Usyk and Fury Sign for Rematch in December PhilBoxing.com Fri, 07 Jun 2024 Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury have signed a contract to meet in a rematch on the 21st of December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight comes after Usyk claimed a points victory over his rival to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.
Usyk was handed a split decision by the judges in their May contest to extend his unbeaten professional record to 22 fights. He joined a small group of boxers to become an undisputed champion in two weight divisions. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion forced Fury to survive a standing count in the ninth round of the contest. He finished the fight strongly, with the scorecards reading 115-112, 115-112 and 113-114. Can Fury Reverse the Result? With a second Usyk-Fury bout now scheduled, and other major fights booked for later this year, Saudi Arabia has now turned into a boxing hub. Boxing fans will get the opportunity to see the two generational boxers square off again, and if it is anywhere near as good as the first bout, they are in for a treat. Fury started the opening fight well and was up on the scorecards in the opening four rounds. However, he will need to find a game plan that works for him this December, if he is to gain revenge and win back his world title.
The British boxer is familiar with having multiple fights with a big rival in the heavyweight division. He faced former WBC champion Deontay Wilder three times between 2018 and 2021. The pair drew the opening leg of their trilogy. Fury got the better of the American in the seventh round the second time around, while in the third installment, the Gypsy King stopped the Bronze Bomber in the 11th round. Now at the age of 35, Fury needs to have the biggest performance of his career in the rematch with Usyk. The Ukrainian has also proved himself in the heavyweight division against Anthony Joshua (twice), Derek Chisora, Daniel Dubois and Chazz Witherspoon. Legacy At Stake for Usyk A repeat victory for Usyk against Fury will ensure he adds another chapter to his legacy in the sport. The 37-year-old is now being discussed as one of the greatest heavyweights in history, and if he can retain his unbeaten record before he retires, he will strengthen that claim. Usyk climbed to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings in the sport in his latest triumph, jumping ahead of Japan’s Naoya Inoue and America’s Terence Crawford. The race to end 2024 at the top of that list is going to be competitive, so the Ukrainian may need another big performance in December. IBF Belt Unlikely to Be on The Line With Usyk refusing to face his mandatory challenger next, the IBF are set to strip the undisputed heavyweight champion of their belt. It means it is likely that the rematch will be for the WBA, WBC and WBO titles. The IBF are expected to announce a fight between the winner of Dubois and Filip Hrgovic against Joshua for their vacant title. Whoever comes through that contest could be in line to face the winner of Usyk-Fury in 2025. Usyk and Fury are expected to enter their training campaigns in October ahead of their blockbuster contest in December. |
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