Tyson Fury hints at dramatic change of tactics for huge Oleksandr Usyk rematch
TYSON FURY hinted he could make a huge tactical change heading into his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk became the first four-belt undisputed champion in heavyweight history after taking Fury’s WBC title and unbeaten record in May.
The Gypsy King scaled 18st 7lb for the fight of his life, while Usyk was smaller at 16 stone.
But Fury appears to believe the 19st 11lb he weighed before knocking out Deontay Wilder in their 2021 trilogy bout was his optimum weight.
He posted a picture of himself before fighting Usyk with the caption: “Was in the shape of my life. But this is not the GK.”
Fury followed up with a snap from his Wilder trilogy and added: “This is him. 19:11lbs bruiser.”
The former WBC champion weighed 18st 4lb in 2018 when he controversially drew against Wilder, 38, after twice being floored.
But he bulked up to 19st 7lb for the rematch two years later, which he dominated in seven rounds.
And Fury went one further to 19st 11lb – a career-heaviest – when he stopped Wilder in 11 thrilling rounds.
Despite teasing the weight gain, Fury, 36, maintained he will not change his coaching team ahead of his rematch with Usyk, 37, on December 21.
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His crowded corner, led by Sugarhill Steward but also involving assistant Andy Lee and Fury’s dad John, came under fire.
John was especially singled out by pundits for shouting over head trainer Sugarhill during the valuable 60 seconds in the corner.
But Fury has vowed to stick with his team when probed during the console release of boxing video game Undisputed.
He said: “I know what I’ve got to do, nothing drastic.
“People can say ‘I want to change trainers or I’ll blame it on me conditioning coach or I’ll blame it on the cook or I’ll blame it on the mouse next door.’
“I’m not interested in all that. For me, it is the same team, same everything. I know what I’ve got to do. I thought I won the fight last time.
“I give him – me boxing all my life and watching boxing my whole career – I give him rounds eight, nine and ten, and round nine was a 10-8.
“So that’s what I give him out of the fight, but obviously the judges saw it a bit different, couple of them did.
“One of them had me winning. That’s what it was. It was as close as it can be. I didn’t get the nod on the night, I’ll make it back next time.”