Usyk vs Fury betting preview

Unified heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, and Tyson Fury are back in Riyadh and just hours away from renewing hostilities. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

In May, Usyk won a sensational first fight by split decision and the feeling is that this weekend’s fight could produce something equally as memorable.

Whereas the build up to the first undisputed heavyweight title fight of the century felt like a celebration, this week has been tense and business like.

After sharing the ring for twelve rounds, both fighters will be confident of putting the lessons they learned into practice on Saturday but the first fight was a gruelling, brutal affair. Both men will remember exactly how hard things got first time around and will be all too aware of exactly what they will need to put themselves through to win this weekend.

Usyk is a slight favourite at 3/4 whilst Fury is available at 11/10.

THE MENTAL BATTLE

Although tiny physical adjustments could make massive changes to the outcome this weekend, the psychological battle is arguably the most significant aspect of the rematch.

How will Fury react having suffered the first defeat of his career? He went into the first fight steadfast in the belief that although Usyk is an outstanding boxer, the Ukrainian couldn’t hurt him. But Fury was dropped and badly hurt hurt in the ninth round. His normally potent mental warfare had next to no impact on the resolute Usyk either.

Fury does have an impeccable record in rematches. He stopped John McDermott, Deontay Wilder and Dereck Chisora in returns and – if the mood this week is anything to go by – he has his mind set on revenge. Fury hasn’t been in the mood to engage in small talk or fun and games. He is in a mean mood and promising to cause pain and damage.

Usyk has a bulletproof mindset. Motivated by his faith and desire to do his war torn homeland proud, Usyk appears unshakeable. Having won the first fight and been on the brink of stopping Fury, he also holds a natural advantage but will know that he will be facing a better, sharper and more determined ‘Gypsy King’ this weekend.

Usyk turned back the challenge of a refocused Anthony Joshua in their rematch and is a vastly experienced fighter who has spent his career competing in hostile environments. There is next to no chance of him taking his eye off the ball having accomplished his ambition of becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion.

THE FIGHT

The sight of Fury bouncing around the ring under heavy fire during that ninth round is the most memorable sequence of the first fight but it disguises just how close and keenly contested a battle it was.

Like all great fights, there were clear changes in momentum. Usyk started quickly but Fury got to grips with the type of movement and cleverness he had never faced before and dominated the middle rounds.

He appeared to hurt Usyk badly in the sixth round but slowed slightly and paid the price during that brutal ninth round. Remarkably, he gathered himself and finished the fight the stronger man.

Last time, Fury’s fights were disrupted by a cut eye which caused the fight to be postponed and restricted his ability to spar properly. Tragically, his wife, Paris, suffered a miscarriage in the days before the first bell. This time, he has made it through training in one piece and shut himself away.

He will need to start quicker and maintain his pace and rhythm throughout the fight. Usyk is a master at recognising any lulls in momentum and ramping up his own work rate to take advantage. Fury had success when he targeted the body and also worked out how to land his right uppercut.

Fury will have been devastated by the defeat but when he sat back and rewatched the fight, he will have seen plenty to be positive about. Especially when he considers the pre-fight difficulties he endured.

Usyk once again proved himself to be arguably the greatest fighter of the modern era. He can solve problems as they happen and pose questions that take his opponent rounds to work out. Usyk quickly worked out how to negate Fury’s advantages in height and reach and his movement won him the early rounds.

Usyk will need to figure out how to prevent Fury from launching a sustained body attack. Clinching and holding inside will be difficult against such a big man so Usyk will need to be constantly moving in and out of range. Launching raiding attacks will bring its own dangers as Fury will look to time him with an uppercut but Usyk will have been preparing for that eventuality for the past six months.

Usyk also holds the invaluable knowledge that he can hurt Fury. He was just a punch or two away from winning the first fight by knockout and that ability should help him maintain his belief if he has to go through any difficult periods.

WHAT HAPPENS?

Fury needs to impose himself without over committing. He is still the bigger, stronger man and his boxing skills held up well over the first half of the fight last time.

Only Fury will know just how much his disrupted build up caused him to pace himself first time around but, even after a terrible ninth round, he was still able to pull himself together and finish the fight strongly. A Fury decision is priced at 14/5.

If Fury can be assertive and work the body whenever Usyk stays close but also keep his jab popping out he can enjoy plenty off success.

Maintaining his rhythm and matching Usyk’s workrate will be key. If you think Fury can do what he did in his rematch with Deontay Wilder and bully Usyk to an inside the distance defeat, take the price of 3/1.

Usyk will do exactly the same as he did first time around. He will box, move and use angles. He will answer Fury back every time he lands a shot and bide his time until Fury gets caught in his web and falls behind a step.

As soon as Fury makes a mistake, Usyk will try to land hard left hands and then follow up with accurate combinations. Fury’s heart is almost impossible to break but Usyk will try to empty his gas tank. If you believe Usyk can go one better than did did last time and force a stoppage, that is priced at 14/5.

He is available at 19/10 to repeat his decision victory.

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