Fury vs Usyk 2 LIVE: Latest news and weigh-in updates

16 hours ago

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk engage in an intense 11-minute face-off. Check out the original video, M264068.

Tyson Fury vs Usyk 2 - Figure 1 — Photo The Independent

Tyson Fury's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is just around the corner, set for tomorrow. The British boxer is looking to seize the unified heavyweight titles, seven months after experiencing his first professional defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian fighter.

In May, Usyk clinched a split decision victory over Fury, making him the first undisputed champion in the division in 24 years. Now, the two fighters are back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Usyk will defend his title against the “Gypsy King.” However, he won’t be defending the IBF belt, as he vacated it earlier in the spring.

Fury put on a strong performance in May, taking charge of the fight after the halfway point, but Usyk's incredible comeback ultimately led him to victory, maintaining his unbeaten record. At 37 years old, Usyk nearly managed to knock Fury out in the ninth round, which is sure to boost his confidence as they prepare for their rematch this Saturday.

There wasn't much to gain from the open workouts on Wednesday, as Fury put on his gloves but didn't throw any punches at all. However, his coach, Sugarhill Steward, shared an interesting update: Fury's father, John, won't be in his corner this time.

On Thursday, the press conference featured an absurd 12-minute standoff between Fury and Usyk. Both fighters stood their ground despite efforts from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and others to mediate.

Stay updated on everything leading up to Usyk vs Fury 2 as we approach Friday's weigh-in. You can catch the live fight on DAZN this weekend. (Please note that we may receive a commission from certain links in this article, but it doesn't affect our content. This income supports journalism at The Independent.)

Fury Vs Usyk 2: Live Weigh-In And Rematch Insights

In the initial match, there were indications that neither of the two fighters was far from defeat.

At 36 years old, Fury has had 36 fights and has been a pro boxer for 17 years. Throughout his career, he has faced tough times, experiencing periods where he battled with serious struggles, felt close to despair, sought refuge in isolation, and even gained 140 pounds.

In January, Usyk will turn 38, and throughout his professional career, which began in 2013, he has faced tough opponents right from the beginning. Despite never having an easy match, he has fought his way through 22 bouts to become the undisputed champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.

In private conversations, they express feelings of weariness and bodies that seem on the verge of giving out. After the first bout, both were on the brink of collapse.

Complete overview by Steve Bunce:

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Live: Fury Vs Usyk 2 Build-Up And Weigh-In

There has been a recent update regarding the judging panel for Fury's rematch against Usyk, as one of the judges has stepped down because of health issues.

The upcoming rematch for the unified titles will be judged by US official Pat Morley and Puerto Rican judge Gerardo Martinez, with Fernando Barbosa also set to be part of the judging panel.

However, Barbosa had to pull out because he fell ill late on Thursday, just before he was set to fly to Riyadh. His replacement, fellow American Steve Weisfeld, traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening.

Dan Rafael shared the news early Friday morning.

Alex Pattle, December 20, 2024, at 11:05 AM.

Fury Vs. Usyk 2 Weigh-In Live: Shane's Prediction

Boxing trainer Shane McGuigan, known for his accurate predictions in recent matches, shared his thoughts on Instagram...

"I think Usyk will take the victory by decision. That said, I acknowledge that Fury has the potential to try a different strategy, and there were several moments in their first match that showed he could adapt. However, I believe that as the fight goes on, it will favor the quicker and more conditioned fighter."

I think that if Fury adopts a more aggressive strategy, it could end up exhausting him. This would give Usyk the chance to capitalize on his speed and relentless pressure, potentially leading him to victory as the match progresses. It promises to be an intriguing bout, for sure.

Alex Pattle, December 20, 2024, 10:35 AM.

Fury Vs Usyk 2: Live Build-Up And Weigh-In

No matter what happens in the fight against Usyk on Saturday, Fury is confident that there will always be interest in a match against Joshua. This is true even though Joshua's popularity has diminished following his painful fifth-round knockout by Daniel Dubois.

Fury was at Wembley to witness Joshua's shocking loss in September, and he was filmed saying, “That’s cost me £150 million, the foolish idiot.”

Fury has affirmed that he was serious about his statements.

Absolutely, I did. We had a two-fight agreement ready that would have brought in a substantial amount of money. But, as always, opportunities come and go. In the end, does it really change anything if he gets another defeat? Not really. It’s still a significant match.

"Even if he faces Dubois and gets knocked out again – which is likely – that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a bad matchup. It’s still an exciting fight. It’s a contest that everyone is eager to watch."

Duncan Bech, December 20, 2024, 10:05 AM

Live: Fury Vs Usyk 2 Build-Up And Weigh-In

Fury anticipates that he will weigh over a stone more when facing Usyk on Saturday compared to his weight in May.

Before their initial match, which Usyk won by a split decision, earning the title of undisputed heavyweight champion, Fury weighed in at 18.7 stone (262 pounds).

At the same time, Usyk, who was once the undisputed champion in the cruiserweight division, registered a weight of 15.9 stone (223 pounds), which is a bit more than his highest weight before. However, as they prepare for Saturday's rematch for the unified titles—following Usyk's decision to vacate the IBF title earlier this spring—Fury is expected to weigh in even more.

“I currently weigh around 280 pounds, just a bit over,” Fury shared with Sky Sports. He went on to explain that this weight increase will enhance the power behind his punches.

When asked if his top performances have been at higher weight classes, the British fighter responded, “Absolutely. Getting hit by someone who weighs 20 stone versus someone who weighs 17 stone feels quite different, no doubt about it. I plan to give him such a beating on Saturday that he won't be interested in a rematch. But, you know, people will do all sorts for a bit of money, right? So you never know what could happen.”

Alex Pattle, December 20, 2024, at 9:35 AM.

Live: Fury Vs. Usyk 2 Build-up And Weigh-In

Fury says he has taken a break from his wife Paris and has completely stopped communicating with his family in order to concentrate on his upcoming fight with Usyk.

"I haven't talked to Paris in three months," Fury shared with TNT Sports. "I haven't said a thing to anyone and I haven't used my phone; I've been completely disconnected. My goal was to create the best possible chance for myself."

“I’m tired of constantly shifting between different roles—like switching from beast mode to dad mode or wife mode. Honestly, I haven’t talked to anyone on the phone lately. I’ve been in my own bubble, focused on my camp. It’s been really tough to keep changing gears. If anyone has tried to call me in the past few months, they haven’t been able to reach me.”

I stop drinking coffee for about seven or eight weeks, and I do the same with Diet Coke. Honestly, I don’t believe it really affects me. I’ve been taking vitamins for a year, then stopped for another year, and didn’t notice any changes. In my opinion, whether you avoid or include certain things doesn’t really matter; what truly counts is the personal goals you set for yourself.

"Simply focus on being happy, as that’s all you can really control. The toughest challenge is to remain present and not crave additional things or achievements. Everyone seems to be striving for more, and I’m included in that—it's something we all do."

Jack Rathborn, December 20, 2024, at 9:05 AM

Live Weigh-in: Fury Vs. Usyk 2 Build-Up

The upcoming heavyweight rematch between Fury and Usyk will include scoring from an additional 'judge' that utilizes artificial intelligence.

Turki Al-Sheikh, who heads Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, shared on X that they are introducing an AI judge. He described it as a trial run that will not affect the official outcomes.

"The post announced, 'An AI-driven judge will oversee the match for the first time ever. It's designed to eliminate bias and human mistakes, brought to you by The Ring. This innovative trial, which won’t affect the official outcomes, will launch during the biggest fight of the century.'"

The announcement is likely to create divided opinions in a sport that has been influenced by contentious judging choices for a long time. On social media, some fans have expressed their support for the decision.

Chris Wilson, December 20, 2024, at 8:35 AM

Live: Fury Vs Usyk 2 Build-Up And Weigh-In

The press conference held yesterday came after the public training sessions on Wednesday.

They were also captivating, with Fury tying his gloves on but choosing not to throw any punches... while Usyk moved around the ring, practicing his punches and showcasing his agility.

In some significant developments, Fury's head coach, Sugarhill Steward, announced that the boxer’s father, John, is no longer part of their corner team.

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Live: Fury Vs Usyk 2 Build-Up And Weigh-In

Welcome back to our blog for the Usyk vs Fury 2 fight week! It’s hard to believe, but the big night is almost here—tomorrow!

A major rematch is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, where Fury aims to redeem himself for his only professional defeat and capture the unified heavyweight titles from Usyk.

Today at 5 PM GMT, we’ll be holding the weigh-in. Before that, let’s recap the events from yesterday's press conference.

Not much was discussed before Fury and Usyk squared off for a full TWELVE MINUTES.

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