Fury vs Usyk 2 predictions: Top fighters tip who will win heavyweight title fight

Next weekend, Tyson Fury will purpose to avenge his first-ever master loss, arsenic he fights Oleksandr Usyk successful Riyadh for the 2nd clip this year.

In May, Usyk won a divided determination complete the Briton aft coming adjacent to stopping him successful information nine, and the consequence crowned the Ukrainian arsenic the first undisputed heavyweight champion successful 24 years.

It besides kept him unbeaten, though he had to conflict done adversity successful the mediate rounds to support that cleanable grounds intact.

Since then, the 37-year-old has vacated the IBF belt, meaning only 3 of the 4 awesome titles are connected the statement successful this rematch. Still, Fury, 36, will beryllium highly motivated to level the score.

But arsenic the Saudi showdown edges nearer and predictions are made, opinions are divided successful the boxing world.

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Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, a erstwhile sparring partner of Fury, has religion successful the Briton. “I consciousness like, successful this fight, we’re going to spot a type of Fury that we haven’t seen for a agelong time: a quiet Fury, [who knows he] tin beryllium beaten if he doesn’t execute well,” said the Australian.

“So, I consciousness for illustration he’s going to beryllium preparing the champion he’s prepared successful a agelong time, to triumph this fight. He knew his boxing IQ was amended than a batch of those fighters that he’s been fighting; he relied connected that. This one, he can’t trust connected that earthy ability. He needs to put successful the difficult activity arsenic well, and I consciousness for illustration we’re going to spot that.”

Meanwhile, Derek Chisora – a erstwhile force of Fury and Usyk – is picking the Ukrainian to triumph again. Chisora, who mislaid to Fury thrice and Usyk once, said: “[Usyk] is still the same, bro. It’s gonna beryllium a bully fight, we’re gonna spot a small spot of difference, but you person to understand: Tyson will travel a small spot different, but Usyk will travel a small spot different [as well]. But arsenic the scales deed correct now, my money’s still edging connected Usyk.”

Elsewhere, ex-world champion Joe Cordina, who fought connected the undercard of Fury-Usyk 1 for illustration Opetaia, predicted: “Fury, [rounds 8 to 12], stoppage. He’ll struggle pinch the footwork of Usyk for the first half, and past he’ll conscionable think: ‘I’ve sewage to get connected it now.’ And the weight, the size will each travel into play.”

Another erstwhile world champion, Carl Frampton, echoed that sentiment. He said: “I fancy Fury. My mind hasn’t really swayed from commencement to finish, which is unusual successful a conflict of this magnitude; I’ve been saying Fury from the start. I deliberation Fury is successful the area now, he’s serious, he’s fresh to fight. Both guys look to beryllium very, very confident. Both, I think, cognize it’s going to beryllium a difficult fight.”

Back successful the heavyweight division, Fabio Wardley and Agit Kabayel differed successful their opinions.

Wardley, the reigning British champion, said: “A batch of group I’ve spoken to wrong the manufacture are edging towards Usyk. [Those predictions are] much truthful mentality-based. I [also] deliberation he’s much focused connected the task astatine hand, focused connected the job, and is dedicated.”

Kabayel countered: “Fury’s mentality is amended [than past time], he’s focused, he will triumph the fight. He has agelong arms, he is tall, and he is intelligent – he has everything. He useful pinch the brain. This fight’s very close. He is really bully astatine boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, but successful my heart, I deliberation Fury wins the conflict connected points. I dislike predictions, but I will opportunity this.”

Amir Khan likewise backed Fury to correct his incorrect from May, pinch the erstwhile world champion saying: “I conscionable thin much towards Tyson successful this fight. As we get person to the fight, I consciousness for illustration Tyson mightiness beryllium a small excessively thin. We cognize Fury tin conflict connected his backmost foot, but we conscionable don’t cognize what to expect [...] Let’s see, I’m gonna instrumentality pinch Fury to triumph the fight, but location could beryllium a fewer scares.”

But, showing really divisive this rematch is proving, world champion Lauren Price picked Usyk to do the double complete Fury.

“Fury evidently is monolithic and a awesome champion,” she said, “but I can’t spell against Usyk. He’s phenomenal – his ringing IQ, everything really... Usyk by decision.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn – who watched “AJ” suffer to Usyk doubly – said: “I person nary thought really to hit [Usyk], but Tyson Fury is simply a very smart fighter. He has smart group successful the corner, but besides from an IQ [perspective] successful boxing, he’s correct up there. Unfortunately, truthful is Oleksandr Usyk.

“So my money, particularly erstwhile he’s won the first fight, will ever beryllium connected Oleksandr Usyk. [But] my bosom wants to spot Tyson Fury triumph – not conscionable because he’s British, but because I want to group up the AJ fight. I’d emotion to spot him do it, but I do spot him arsenic the underdog successful this fight.”