Tyson Fury’s brother Shane Fury says he needs to adjust his mind and not just focus on physical adjustments to have a chance of defeating unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in their December 21 rematch.
Shane thinks that if Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) does the same thing in preparation and fights the same way, it will be the same outcome as his 12-round split decision loss to Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) ) earlier this year on May 18 in Riyadh.
He feels it was a close battle that could have gone either way. Fans who had no dog in the hunt saw it as a clear 8-4 victory for Usyk, who they said was robbed of a knockout in the much-contested ninth round when the referee stepped in to stop the A- side fighter Tyson to give a stand. eight count Shane doesn’t mention that little episode.
Shane isn’t saying how a different mindset would help his 36-year-old brother, Tyson, because his problems in his loss were related to his fragile punch resistance, lack of power and Usyk’s technical superiority. None of those things will change in the rematch unless Fury has suddenly gotten younger, smarter and more powerful since last May.
“If Tyson does exactly what he did that night, keep in mind that I thought Tyson boxed well that night. There were a few things wrong, but if Tyson does exactly what he did that night, we’ll have the same result, which is a close fight that could go either way,” said Shane Fury. iFL TV about Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight earlier this year on May 18th.
The previous Fury-Usyk fight could not have gone either way. It should have been a clear knockout victory, Usyk, if the referee hadn’t given Fury an eight count in the ninth round. Other than that, Usyk was up 4-2 after six rounds, then Fury won 7 & 8 but was dominated in rounds 9, 10, 11 and 12. Hence the 8-4 win for Usyk. This is NOT a close fight unless you have glasses on that favor Fury.
“If Tyson adjusts himself, he will have a different outcome. I believe it’s not just physically adapting yourself with the tactics,” Shane said. “You have to adjust yourself in your mind and see it through.”
Shane doesn’t say what adjustments Fury could make to have a different outcome. If he fights in the center of the ring this time, he will be easy pickings for master boxer Usyk. We saw last time that Fury is too big, slow and old to fight Usyk in the center ring. Additionally, the hold and grapple that has become Fury’s bread-and-butter strategy for winning his fights since adding SugarHill Steward as his trainer doesn’t work against Usyk. Fury was violently pushed away every time he tried to wrap Usyk in his truck of horror last May.
“I think so, yes, but not that it was an issue,” Shane said when asked if Fury would come in heavier in the rematch with Usyk. “Tyson was seventeen and a half stone that night. Tyson hasn’t been in ten years, but he’s had two training camps. He did the full training camp before getting the cut. He was out for two weeks when he got the cut.
“Then he got a break, and he came back and got another training camp. In the end, it was like stoking a bonfire and trying to put it out with water. He couldn’t keep the weight on him .Hopefully he gets to his normal weight of 18 and 10, and has the stamina to go and do the same thing for longer,” Shane said.
Shane seems to be blaming Fury’s weight being too light for his excuse for losing to Usyk, which makes no sense. Fury was the size of a horse for his previous fight against upstart Francis Ngannou and was beaten, but won a controversial 10-round split decision on October 28, 2023.
Fury’s sheer size in that fight didn’t help him, did it? Shane has to face the reality that his brother, Tyson, is not that good and doesn’t have the talent to beat fighters like Usyk or even Ngannou. It was a clear loss for Fury, from what I and many fans saw.
Some of that had to do with Fury getting old, but he was never a good fighter from day one. His resume is mediocre, and fans who are either too lazy or unwilling to accept the fact are being misled.
