Tyson Fury went to extraordinary lengths to feel extremely prepared to get revenge on Oleksandr Usyk.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet for the second time this year for the undisputed heavyweight boxing championship in Riyadh this weekend. Usyk handed Fury his first career boxing loss earlier this year when he secured a split-decision victory on the judges' scorecards.
Much has been made of the various changes Fury is expected to make for the Usyk rematch. He has gained a historic amount of weight during fight week, indicating a potentially aggressive game plan to combat Usyk's unique puzzle.
Fury will enter the ring as the bigger man against Usyk when they face off again this weekend. He's locked in for this rematch and has historically handled the second and third periods well against his previous opponents.
After a long training camp ahead of the Usyk rematch, Fury has opened up about the various challenges that come with grueling sessions in the gym. While plotting his revenge against Usyk, Fury put his wife and children on the shelf for months to stay focused on the task at hand.
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Tyson Fury ghosted his wife for three months as he prepared for Oleksandr Usyk's rematch
During a recent interview with Queensberry Promotions, Fury explained the effort he put in during camp to feel prepared enough to get revenge on Usyk.
“I will end his career, this will be, after this you will never hear about Oleksandr Usyk again. It's been a long camp, I haven't seen my wife and children in three months. I haven't spoken [my wife] not at all within three months,” Fury said. “Not a word, much sacrificed. But it will all be worth it. 100 percent.”
While it's hard to say if Fury was being literal in his comments above, it's a strong indication that he's approached this fight camp differently than their first fight. Looking back on their first clash, Fury has acknowledged that his performance in the ring likely influenced the outcome on the scorecards.
Leading up to the loss to Usyk, Fury was undefeated in his previous 35 career fights. Throughout his career he has shown that he can deliver top performances in rematches, as evidenced by his last two fights against Deontay Wilder.
Tyson Fury locked in for Oleksandr Usyk's rematch
Fury showed signs of decline when he narrowly defeated former UFC champion Francis Ngannou via split decision last year, despite many believing Ngannou deserved the nod. That sentiment was further proven in the first Usyk fight when Fury repeatedly found himself in trouble with Usyk's signature jab.
Fury will be looking to regain the form that saw him score two knockout wins over Wilder, along with finishes over Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte. He is considered one of the greatest boxing heavyweights of all time.
A win over Usyk would set Fury up well for the upcoming Christmas break, and he believes it would make avoiding his wife and children worth every minute.
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