Usyk vs Fury 2: Former champion confident he will win the rematch

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is confident he will regain the world title when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on December 21.

Usyk defied the odds with a split decision victory in May, making a mockery of most boxing betting tips made by pundits in the run-up to the fight.

Many people expected Fury’s size and power would overwhelm Usyk, but the challenger boxed a sensible fight to strip the belts from the British boxer.

The Ukrainian boxer is rated as an 8/11 shot with Betway to beat Fury for the second time, but the ‘Gypsy King’ is confident he will emerge victorious in Riyadh.

After claiming he was robbed by the judges in their first meeting, Fury insists he will make sure the Middle East rematch does not go the distance.

“It all depends on what I need to do on the night,” Fury told DAZN. “I needed to get (Deontay) Wilder out of there, or he would get me out of there and that’s the type of fight it had to be. It had to be a 50/50 gunsling with the biggest puncher in history or else he’d have chinned me in round nine.

“Going into the rematch with Usyk, it’s going to be the same. I’m going to roll the dice, and it’s going to be you or me, best foot forward and swing away. I’ve never been afraid to get knocked spark out, I always put it on the line every time.”

Fury slipped up in the first fight by underestimating Usyk, but he has looked much more focused in the build to their second meeting in Saudi Arabia.

Fury has previously demonstrated his ability to bounce back from adversity, although he has rarely faced a fighter who possesses Usyk’s ring know-how.

His head movement will need to be much sharper against the champion’s quick combinations and he must ensure he keeps his famed defence intact throughout the contest.

Usyk was able to draw Fury onto him and he could cause problems again if he carefully picks his shots and uses his own footwork to stay out of trouble.

Given what is at stake in Saudi Arabia, Fury simply cannot afford to lose this fight if he wants to stay relevant in the heavyweight division.

Another loss would likely leave a money-spinning match-up with heavyweight flop Anthony Joshua as his only option, but that would mean little in the grand scheme of things.

Fury is adamant that he will set the record straight with Usyk, which would potentially set up a third and decisive fight between the pair next year.

“There’s no secret – I’m going to knock you out because I don’t think I will get a decision no matter what I do,” Fury told Usyk.

“I don’t think I’m going to get a boxing decision, so I’m just going to have to take it out of the judges’ hands like I did in America that time, and I’ve got to get Usyk out of there.

“Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there if I want to see victory.”