Tyson Fury’s hunger after suffering a first career defeat will be the key to winning his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk tonight.
That’s according to his coach Andy Lee, who will join SugarHill Steward in the blue corner tonight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh for the heavyweight world title fight. Lee is also working the broadcast for the undercard, before switching hats for the main event.
Fury was narrowly beaten by a split decision in the last outing back in May, arguably losing just to a ninth round knockdown that changed the course of the fight. And Lee reckons that he will be able to make the requisite adjustments this time around.
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Tyson Fury made major weight change for Oleksandr Usyk fight
At yesterday’s weigh-ins, Tyson Fury made his first big change known, tipping the scales a whopping 19lb heavier than he did for the first fight. At 281lb, it was a career-highest weight, but perhaps not fully legitimate.
Stepping on the scale first, the two-time champion refused to strip off any of his clothes, including a hefty leather jacket, a baseball cap, jeans and a belt. This means that he could be as much as 7lb lighter depending on the weight of his clothes.
His previous highest was for Francis Ngannou last year, where he looked famously slow and almost lost to the debuting former UFC heavyweight champion. He was also 277lb for his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, where he was dropped multiple times before landing a big KO in the later rounds.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk tipped the scales with a t-shirt and his trousers on, coming in at a career-heaviest of his own at 226lb. This marks a massive 55lb difference, but neither of their actual weights will be known until fight night when they weigh in again.
Andy Lee reveals the one key difference in Tyson Fury for Oleksandr Usyk rematch
The big difference that Andy Lee seems to be seeing in the Fury camp is a new hunger. The Brit had never lost as a professional before Usyk managed to squeeze past him, and he immediately activated his rematch clause.
Speaking with Seconds Out, Lee said of Fury: “He’s going to be a lot fitter and he’s got a lot to prove. He’s a hungrier guy because he lost and I think that that alone will give him huge confidence and belief to be better.”
Lee is the former WBO middleweight champion, and has turned his success as a fighter into a successful coaching career. In fact, he may have to coach against his own cousin Fury if his charge Joseph Parker ends up defeating Daniel Dubois for the IBF belt next year and the Brit wins the belts tonight in Riyadh.
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