Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is just three days away, 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 Saturday’s rematch.
Follow all the build-up to Usyk vs Fury 2, including Wednesday’s open workouts, 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 open workouts LIVE
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Tyson Fury challenges Oleksandr Usyk for unified heavyweight titles on Saturday
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Pair return to Riyadh, where Usyk handed Fury his first loss ever in May
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Usyk won split decision against Fury, nearly stopping the Briton in round nine
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That result made the unbeaten Ukrainian the first undisputed heavyweight king in 24 years
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Usyk has since vacated the IBF belt, meaning undisputed status is not on the line this time
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Wednesday’s open workouts set for 6pm BST; press conference on Thursday, weigh-in on Friday
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: How Ukraine’s war changed Usyk, and how it didn’t
15:51 , Alex Pattle
As the open workouts edge closer, why not read our piece on Usyk from May – ahead of his first fight with Fury – on the Ukrainian’s role in the war with Russia?
It features interviews with Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk and other compatriots.
How Ukraine’s war changed Oleksandr Usyk – and how it didn’t
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Briton details key change in search of KO
15:15 , Alex Pattle
Fury expects to be more than a stone heavier against Usyk on Saturday than he was in May.
Ahead of their first fight, which Usyk won via split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion, Fury tipped the scales at 18.7st (262lb). Meanwhile, Usyk – a former undisputed cruiserweight champion – weighed in at 15.9st (223lb), slightly surpassing his previous career-high weight.
But ahead of Saturday’s rematch for the unified belts, after Usyk vacated the IBF title in spring, Fury will be coming in even heavier.
“[I’m] about 20st (280lb) at the moment, just over,” Fury told Sky Sports, before saying it will give him “more power in the punches”.
When asked whether his best performances have come at heavier weights, the Briton added: “I think so, yeah. When a 20st man hits you on the jaw, compared to a man at 17st, it’s a bit different for sure. I’m gonna beat him that bad on Saturday, he ain’t gonna want a rematch – but listen, I think people do a lot of stuff for a right few quid, don’t they? So, crazier things have happened.”
More here:
Tyson Fury details key change in search of knockout in Oleksandr Usyk rematch
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE
14:48 , Alex Pattle
A reminder that tonight’s open workouts are set to begin at around 6pm BST.
We’re expecting some undercard fighters to step into the ring before Fury and Usyk do the same.
We’ll have live updates throughout!
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: AI judge to be used in main event
14:20 , Alex Pattle
The heavyweight rematch between Fury and Usyk this weekend will feature scoring from a fourth ‘judge’ powered by artificial intelligence.
Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, announced the implementation of the AI judge in a post on X, adding that it is an “experiment” which “won’t impact the official results”.
“For the first time ever, an AI-powered judge will monitor the fight”, said the post. “Free from bias and human error brought to you by The Ring. This groundbreaking experiment, which won’t impact the official results, debuts during the biggest fight of the century.”
The announcement is sure to split opinion in a sport that has long been affected by controversial judges’ decisions, with some fans on social media welcoming the decision.
More here:
Fury v Usyk to include ‘AI-powered’ fourth judge
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Age brings double-edged sword which will decide rematch
13:51 , Steve Bunce
There were signs in the first fight that the end is not far away for either of the two men.
Fury is now 36, has fought 36 times and has been a professional boxer for 17 years. He has also had bad years, days when he looked at death, hid in the darkest of places and gained 10 stone in flab.
Usyk is 37 and has never had an easy fight since turning professional in 2013; he has been matched hard from the start and in 22 fights he has managed to become the undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
In private, they talk of exhaustion and bodies that are simply getting closer to shutting down. At the end of the first fight, they were both near collapse.
Steve Bunce on the role of age in Usyk vs Fury 2:
Age brings double-edged sword which will decide Fury v Usyk rematch
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Fighters make predictions
13:25 , Alex Pattle
Final predictions for now.
World champion Lauren Price picked Usyk to do the double over Fury. “Fury obviously is massive and a great champion,” she said, “but I can’t go against Usyk. He’s phenomenal – his ring IQ, everything really… Usyk by decision.”
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn – who watched “AJ” lose to Usyk twice – said: “I have no idea how to beat [Usyk], but Tyson Fury is a very smart fighter. He has smart people in the corner, but also from an IQ [perspective] in boxing, he’s right up there. Unfortunately, so is Oleksandr Usyk.
“So my money, especially when he’s won the first fight, will always be on Oleksandr Usyk. [But] my heart wants to see Tyson Fury win – not just because he’s British, but because I want to set up the AJ fight. I’d love to see him do it, but I do see him as the underdog in this fight.”
Fighters predict Fury vs Usyk 2 ahead of heavyweight title fight
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Fighters make predictions
13:10 , Alex Pattle
Further predictions…
Back in the heavyweight division, Fabio Wardley and Agit Kabayel differed in their opinions.
Wardley, the reigning British champion, said: “A lot of people I’ve spoken to within the industry are edging towards Usyk. [Those predictions are] more so mentality-based. I [also] think he’s more focused on the task at hand, focused on the job, and is dedicated.”
Kabayel countered: “Fury’s mentality is better [than last time], he’s focused, he will win the fight. He has long arms, he is tall, and he is intelligent – he has everything. He works with the brain. This fight’s very close. He is really good at boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, but in my heart, I think Fury wins the fight on points. I hate predictions, but I will say this.”
Amir Khan similarly backed Fury to right his wrong from May, with the former world champion saying: “I just lean more towards Tyson in this fight. As we get closer to the fight, I feel like Tyson might be a little too thin. We know Fury can fight on his back foot, but we just don’t know what to expect […] Let’s see, I’m gonna stick with Fury to win the fight, but there could be a few scares.”
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Fighters make predictions
12:55 , Alex Pattle
More predictions!
Ex-world champion Joe Cordina, who fought on the undercard of Fury-Usyk 1 like Opetaia, predicted: “Fury, [rounds eight to 12], stoppage. He’ll struggle with the footwork of Usyk for the first half, and then he’ll just think: ‘I’ve got to get on it now.’ And the weight, the size will all come into play.”
Another former world champion, Carl Frampton, echoed that sentiment. He said: “I fancy Fury. My mind hasn’t really swayed from start to finish, which is strange in a fight of this magnitude; I’ve been saying Fury from the start. I think Fury is in the zone now, he’s serious, he’s ready to fight. Both guys seem to be very, very confident. Both, I think, know it’s going to be a difficult fight.”
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Fighters make predictions
12:38 , Alex Pattle
As Saturday’s Saudi showdown edges nearer and predictions are made, opinions are split in the boxing world.
Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, a former sparring partner of Fury, has faith in the Briton. “I feel like, in this fight, we’re going to see a version of Fury that we haven’t seen for a long time: a hungry Fury, [who knows he] can be beaten if he doesn’t perform well,” said the Australian.
“So, I feel like he’s going to be preparing the best he’s prepared in a long time, to win this fight. He knew his boxing IQ was better than a lot of those fighters that he’s been fighting; he relied on that. This one, he can’t rely on that natural ability. He needs to put in the hard work as well, and I feel like we’re going to see that.”
Meanwhile, Derek Chisora – a former opponent of Fury and Usyk – is picking the Ukrainian to triumph again. Chisora, who lost to Fury thrice and Usyk once, said: “[Usyk] is still the same, bro. It’s gonna be a good fight, we’re gonna see a little bit of difference, but you have to understand: Tyson will come a little bit different, but Usyk will come a little bit different [as well]. But as the scales hit right now, my money’s still edging on Usyk.”
Fighters predict Fury vs Usyk 2 ahead of heavyweight title fight
Fury vs Usyk 2 build-up and open workouts LIVE: Main-event prize money
12:05 , Alex Pattle
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…
