Tyson Fury is gearing up for his December 21 rematch against Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, but his recent comments have raised eyebrows. Fury, who lost their first bout in May via split decision, is attributing his struggles in the ninth round to “complacency.”
This narrative adds to the growing list of excuses Fury has made since his defeat, as he grapples with the reality of being bested by Usyk. Despite claiming he should have won the first fight, Fury was visibly shaken in the ninth round, where Usyk landed a devastating left hand that left the “Gypsy King” on unsteady legs.
The first fight highlighted Fury’s vulnerabilities, particularly his diminished punch resistance. Since his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Fury’s durability has come into question, and his softer schedule - including wins over Dillian Whyte, Dereck Chisora, and MMA fighter Francis Ngannou - hasn’t helped silence critics.
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Fury-Usyk 1 was scored 114-113 for Usyk, 114-113 for Fury, and 115-112 for Usyk, with many questioning a controversial standing eight count that appeared to save Fury in the ninth round. Fury’s insistence on blaming circumstances rather than Usyk’s skill has only fueled skepticism about his readiness for the rematch.
Usyk, meanwhile, has been clear about his intentions to leave no doubts this time as the Ukrainian has hinted at aiming for a knockout to eliminate any controversy.
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