Usyk vs. Fury Rematch: Key Details

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are scheduled to compete once more on December 21 in Saudi Arabia. The two heavyweight contenders previously met six months prior in Riyadh, where Usyk secured a narrow victory over Fury by split decision. The event marked a historic occasion, as Usyk became the first four-belt heavyweight champion of the modern era. The upcoming bout is anticipated as an early Christmas gift for sports enthusiasts. Live text and radio commentary for the event is set to commence at 20:00 GMT on the night of the fight, accessible via the BBC Sport website and app. The upcoming match poses the question of whether Fury can avenge his sole professional defeat, or if Usyk’s remarkable, undefeated career will persist. Key information regarding the WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight world title fight is provided here. Ringwalk timings for events in Saudi Arabia have varied over the past 12 months, with some bouts commencing significantly after midnight and others closer to 22:00. Organizers in Riyadh for this event intend to schedule it towards the earlier part of that range. The initial fight is scheduled to begin at 16:00 GMT. Usyk and Fury’s ringwalks are aimed for 22:15, suggesting the main event will likely commence around 22:30. Fury’s rematch against Usyk is scheduled for live broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live starting at 21:00 GMT on Saturday, December 21, accessible via the BBC Sport website and app. BBC Sport is set to provide daily coverage from Riyadh during fight week, and Steve Bunce will release daily installments of his 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast. Live text commentary for the undercard and all pre-fight preparations will be available starting at 20:00. The fight card for Saturday, December 21, with the program commencing at 21:00 GMT, includes: Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2 – WBC, WBO & WBA heavyweight titles Moses Itauma v Demsey McKean – heavyweight Serhii Bohachuk v Ishmael Davis – light-middleweight Johnny Fisher v Dave Allen – heavyweight Isaac Lowe v Lee McGregor – featherweight Peter McGrail v Rhys Edwards – featherweight Daniel Lapin v Dylan Colin – light-heavyweight Andrii Novytskyi v Edgar Ramirez – heavyweight Patrick Morley from the USA, Ignacio Robles from Panama, and Gerardo Martinez from Puerto Rico are designated as the three ringside judges. The schedule for pre-fight events includes: Wednesday – open workout Thursday – news conference Friday – weigh-in Similar to their initial encounter, Usyk v Fury 2 is anticipated to be a closely contested bout. Usyk, aged 37, has secured all championship titles in both the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. The Ukrainian boxer maintains an undefeated record across 22 fights, including 14 knockouts, and demonstrated his full range of abilities in his most recent match. Usyk’s primary strengths remain his strategic boxing intellect and exceptional movement. While the win against Fury stands as the most significant of his career, Usyk has also achieved victories over Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, and Tony Bellew. Fury, aged 36, possesses a significant reach and height advantage, with a six-inch difference between the two imposing heavyweights. Fury possesses a seven-inch reach advantage, which he may aim to utilize more effectively in the rematch. The loss to Usyk marked Fury’s initial professional defeat in 16 years, altering his professional record to 34 wins, one defeat, and one draw. Fury has previously held every heavyweight title, though not concurrently. Notable victories in his career include those against Deontay Wilder, Wladimir Klitschko, and Dillian Whyte. As both heavyweights approach 40 years of age, their cumulative career experience could significantly influence the rematch. Usyk appears to be the fresher competitor, at least professionally, having participated in 14 fewer fights than Fury’s total of 36 bouts. Furthermore, Fury has completed a substantial 242 rounds, in contrast to Usyk’s 189. Usyk is set to defend his WBA, WBO, and WBC heavyweight championship belts. In contrast to the initial bout, the IBF belt is now held by Daniel Dubois, as Usyk was compelled to vacate it following his triumph over Fury. Consequently, the rematch will not determine the official undisputed heavyweight championship. Usyk’s Ring Magazine heavyweight title will also be contested. Usyk achieved the status of undisputed heavyweight champion in May, a feat not accomplished in nearly 25 years. Lennox Lewis was the last individual to attain this distinction. The highly anticipated bout with Fury met all expectations, offering the drama and quality anticipated by fans. Following his dominance in the initial rounds, Fury, exhibiting showmanship, began to lose control as Usyk systematically dismantled his rival champion. Usyk demonstrated patience, focusing on body shots, and nearly stopped Fury in the ninth round. Fury received a standing count but remarkably recovered to secure the 12th and final round. The judges’ scorecards indicated 115-112 and 114-113 in favor of Usyk, while a third judge scored it 114-113 for Fury.