Top-ranked promoter Todd DuBoef feels Tyson Fury was flawed and took things for granted in his fight against Oleksandr Usyk last May. That led to Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) fading in the middle rounds and losing a 12-round split decision in Riyadh.
Fury was hurt by a shot to the nose in the eighth and then was pummeled by a left from Usyk in the ninth round. Fury looked in bad shape and probably would have been stopped had the referee not given him a standing eight count after falling against the ropes.
DuBoef expects former WBC heavyweight champion Fury to be improved for his rematch against WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
According to Duboef, Fury’s problems were the result of him letting go after starting well in the early rounds. However, it seems more like a case of Fury’s old habits coming back to haunt him with his decision to use the ropes to lean up to avoid head shots. Normally this works for him in his fights, but it didn’t this time. Usyk pounded him with shots.
The 36-year-old Fury has lost some weight, and he has plenty of time to shed more pounds before the rematch with Usyk in December. If Fury’s weight was the culprit behind his poor performance in the first fight against Usyk, he should have taken care of it in the rematch.
“In those middle rounds, it felt like he was just hitting on him, and I think he just got a little lackadaisical and confident,” Todd DuBoef said. Sky Sports Boxing. “I think he learned a lesson, and it was a hard one. But I also believe the other guy is going to be better this time because he has more confidence.
“I think he’s not going to take things for granted, and I think he’s learned a hard lesson.”
Fury’s lackluster performance last time out may not be a case of him being a “little bit flawed, as DuBoef believes, but rather that he is fighting a more talented fighter than him.
Usyk is far more advanced than the guys Fury has feasted on during his professional career, and he hasn’t faced the cream of the crop since 2015. Fury’s best win since his career-best win over 39-year-old Wladimir Klitschko is Deontay Wilder, and he’s nowhere near elite level.
