- The rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is scheduled for December 21
- World heavyweight champion Usyk won his first fight by split decision in May.
- Dillian Whyte believes Usyk could knock out Fury when they meet again
Dillian Whyte has warned Tyson Fury to be “very careful” against Oleksandr Usyk in their long-awaited rematch on December 21.
Fury suffered the only defeat of his professional career when he first faced Ukrainian Usyk in Saudi Arabia in May.
Usyk appeared to be on the brink of a ninth-round stoppage victory when he landed 14 shots to leave Fury reeling.
The last of those blows sent Fury tumbling over the ropes. The ropes kept him upright, but it was still recorded as the ninth fall of his illustrious career.
Fury was able to survive the round before the fight went down to the wire and Usyk ultimately prevailed via split decision.
Now they will meet again, in Riyadh, on December 21 and Whyte believes Fury could be knocked out.
Oleksandr Usyk (left) and Tyson Fury (right) will fight again in a rematch on December 21.
World heavyweight champion Usyk won his first fight by unanimous decision in May.
“In heavyweight boxing, you’re always one punch away,” Whyte said. sky sports.
‘He caught it pretty well. In some places in the world they would have stopped that fight.
“But because of Fury’s nature and the fact that he shows that he gets up and can keep going, that’s why they didn’t stop him. But I think Usyk can stop him. Either of them (can stop each other).
‘Fury had Usyk in big trouble, just moments before. It just goes to show that Usyk is growing into a heavyweight physique and he’s a lot stronger and he’s punching a lot harder and he’s a lot more aggressive.
“Fury needs to be very careful in the rematch, very, very careful.”
But Whyte certainly isn’t ruling out Fury. The Gypsy King has previously beaten John McDermott, Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder in rematches and Whyte added: “History has shown that he never goes against Tyson Fury because he keeps coming back.”
‘Every time he gets ruled out, he comes back and gets better every time.
‘It’s like the fight with Deontay Wilder. He was better in the second fight, better in the third fight. Against John McDermott, he was better in the second fight.
Usyk and Fury pictured facing off at a press conference at London’s Guildhall in October.
Dillian Whyte (pictured) warned Fury that Usyk could knock him out later this month.
“He seems to be one of those guys that, when the pressure is on, he shows up.”
“To beat Usyk, I think he needs to use his size. He has to be more aggressive and he needs to push the fight. He can’t stay behind because Usyk is a tactical genius.
“He put a lot of pressure on Fury on the front foot, which is something we’ve never seen him do before, so Tyson needs to stifle him and fight him like he fought Steve Cunningham. I think he needs to apply those kinds of tactics.”
Pressed for a prediction, Whyte, who lost by sixth-round TKO when facing Fury in 2022, concluded: “It’s hard to say, because if I were a betting man, I’d pick Oleksandr Usyk.”
“But I know from history and from watching Fury fight and knowing his determination, and being in camp with him and fighting him and seeing that he’s always bounced back.”
‘It’s difficult to go against him because you can’t just dismiss him. You think it’s over, that it’s not coming back, and then it just goes back and produces the products.’
Usyk is currently the favorite among all UK bookmakers, while Fury can be backed at around 6-4.