Tyson Fury has sent a stern message to Oleksandr Usyk, warning the unified heavyweight champion that he made a "mistake" by not finishing him off in their first fight last May. Fury, who lost to Usyk in that contest, took to Instagram to declare that Usyk will "feel the wrath of a menace" when they meet again on December 21 in Riyadh.
Fury has remained relatively quiet since his defeat, leading many fans to speculate that he's been stewing over the loss and reflecting on what went wrong. In their first fight, Fury spent a lot of time leaning against the ropes, employing a strategy similar to the one he used in his 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko. However, Usyk was unafraid to unleash his offense, and Fury struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of the Ukrainian southpaw.
"You had your shot but couldn’t finish the job! Mistake. Now you’re about to feel the wrath of a menace," Fury stated in his post. The former heavyweight champion seems determined to reclaim his title, but boxing experts, including Roy Jones Jr., have criticized Fury's tactics in the first bout, highlighting his weight issues and reliance on outdated strategies.
For Fury to have a chance in the rematch, he will need to regain the form that helped him defeat Deontay Wilder in 2020. Fury himself acknowledged that he needs to be in top shape and more aggressive if he hopes to defeat Usyk this time around. His December 21 rematch will be a defining moment as Fury aims to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
Read more about the upcoming mega event featuring Usyk vs. Fury here.
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