Hear: Fury looks “very old”

Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury “looked quite old” during the media workout this week, and note how he has aged ahead of his rematch with WBA, WBC and WNO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, December 21 in Riyadh.

Although Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) is only 36, to some fans he looked like a person in his 50s or early 60s during the build-up to his rematch with Usyk. It’s not just the beard. The punishment both fighters took in their previous fight was severe, but it seems it took a lot more out of their Gypsy King, causing the aged look.

Fury’s physical condition

It’s Fury’s face and body. He looked well past his chronological age of 36, which could be a problem for him because Usyk hasn’t aged since their May 18 fight. He wants to knock out Fury to finish him off and prevent the judges from scoring it.

The promoter, Hearn, doesn’t have a dog in this race and can tell it like it is. He says Fury is “no longer a young man,” which is putting it mildly.

“I know he’s got the beard on and everything, but I thought Tyson looked quite old at the training session to be honest,” Eddie Hearn told BBC 5 Live Sport, noting how Tyson Fury appeared to have aged since his loss to Oleksandr Usyk on May 18. “He is no longer a young man.”

“He’s an old 36,” Steve Bunce said of Fury.

“He is not a natural athlete. You’re not going to see him every day doing his yoga and getting his massages, like totally looking after himself,” Hearn said of Fury. “But he is a natural fighter. That is the difference. He is not manufactured, but he is not an athlete. He doesn’t move like that.”

The Gypsy King’s Lifestyle

Fury’s habit of packing on the pounds between fights may contribute to the physical decline. British great Ricky Hatton used to suffer between fights, putting on weight and then having to lose it in training camp. His career may have been dramatically shortened. He retired at 34, which is close to where Fury is.

“I think his body will break down faster than someone who lived a full life,” Hearn said of the ‘Gypsy King. “Usyk, I think he’s an athlete, and I think he might be able to last a little longer. Fury is like an instinct, impulse fighter and that’s what makes him dangerous.

“He doesn’t look like he should be good, but he really is good because he’s been fighting since he was a baby,” Hearn said of Fury.

“Tyson Fury looked pretty old.”@EddieHearn look ahead #UsykFury2 pic.twitter.com/VcWhvXvhid

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) December 20, 2024