Tyson Fury has hinted on social media that he intends to add some bulk to his frame for his rematch against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In Fury’s last fight against Usyk, which he lost by a 12-round split decision, he weighed in at 262 pounds on May 18.
On social media, the 36-year-old Fury posted a couple of photos, one of which was the 262-lb version of himself against Usyk and the other weighing in at 277 pounds for his trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder on October 9, 2021. Fury spoke favorably of how he looked at 277, suggesting he will add some weight to his frame.
Unfortunately, that may not help Fury as he is now 36 years old, not the 33-year-old who fought Wilder in 2021. Fury also doesn’t fight the non-technical Wilder, who looked outmatched in the skills department in all three. of their battles.
The real problem is that Fury has aged and is not the same fighter he was three to four years ago when he fought Wilder. It is physically impossible for Fury to transform himself into the 277-lb house that defeated the hopelessly lost Deontay because he got too old. However, even that version of Fury would have problems against Usyk because he would be too slow and make himself a target for the sharp counter.
Passive fighting is what saved Fury from being knocked out by Usyk last May. That and the referee, who gave Fury a standing eight count instead of waving the fight off in the ninth round when he was badly hurt by Usyk.
Fury is fighting Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), and he is a much more talented fighter than him. In addition, Usyk is lighter on his feet, faster and more agile. So, even if Fury ramps up to the high 270s, it’s not going to help him against Usyk. On the contrary, it will slow Fury down, making him even more of a target for Usyk’s punches than the last time they fought.
“Was in the shape of my life, but it’s not the Gypsy King,” Tyson Fury said on social media about the condition he was in for his fight against Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year on May 18.
“That’s him, 19st 11-lb bruiser,” Fury said of the 277 pounds he weighed in for his third fight against Deontay Wilder.
Fury would be better off coming in lighter for the rematch with Usyk rather than heavier as he’s going to need every bit of speed he can get to avoid being knocked out
