The undercard for Tyson Fury’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk has been revealed.
Usyk became the first undisputed world champion of the four-belt era in May, stripping Fury of his WBC title to write his name in the history books as one of boxing’s all-time greats.
Fury had the advantage midway through the fight after some close opening rounds, but Usyk staged a formidable comeback in the closing stages, dramatically claiming a 10-8 lead in the ninth round by landing a series of blows on the Gypsy King as He stumbled against the ropes.
The pair will go head to head for the second time in Saudi Arabia on December 21, and fans will be wondering if the Gypsy King has what it takes to get revenge on Usyk.
The undercard for the highly anticipated fight has been announced, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh sharing the line-up ahead of Artur Beterbiev’s undisputed title fight against Dmitry Bivol this weekend.
The undercard for Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk has been revealed
Usyk became the first undisputed world champion of the four-belt era in May, stripping Fury of his WBC title to write his name in the history books as one of boxing’s all-time greats.
The co-main event will be an exciting showdown between Serhii Bohachuk of Ukraine (24-2, 23 KOs) and Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan (9-0-1, 6 KOs).
Both men are known for their power and aggressive styles, and Bohachuk boasts an astonishing knockout rate: he has knocked out 23 of his opponents.
The Ukrainian puncher, trained by Manny Robles, looks to bounce back from his loss to Vergil Ortiz Jr and make a statement on the world stage.
Madrimov, a former amateur standout and Olympic alternate for Uzbekistan, has been on the fast track since turning professional.
Known for his skilled boxing skills and his ability to switch between orthodox and left-handed stances, Madrimov has a record of 10-1-1.
Madrimov became world champion at the age of 29 after 10 professional fights, but lost his most recent fight against Terence Crawford.
Madrimov’s last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Crawford, in which he lost his WBA super welterweight title.
In the heavyweight division, 19-year-old British phenom Moses Itauma (10-0, 8 KOs) will face his toughest test yet against Australian Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KOs).
Itauma, widely considered one of the sport’s brightest prospects, has been demolishing his opponents with ease, knocking out eight of his opponents.
Standing at 6’4′ with an imposing frame, the young fighter has already been compared to a young Mike Tyson for his fearsome power and relentless pressure.
McKean, a 6-foot-6 lefty, will have experience and durability in the Dec. 21 contest.
In the heavyweight division, 19-year-old British phenom Moses Itauma (10-0, 8 KOs) will face his toughest test yet against Australian Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KOs).
Itauma, widely considered one of the sport’s brightest prospects, has been demolishing his opponents with ease, knocking out eight of his opponents.
A former rugby league player turned boxer, McKean has fought internationally, including on high-profile cards in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Although he is coming off a recent loss to Filip Hrgović, McKean is still a credible goalie in the heavyweight division.
For Itauma, a victory over an opponent of McKean’s caliber would further cement his reputation as a future title contender.
In another heavyweight bout, Johnny Fisher (12-0, 11 KOs), also known as ‘The Romford Bull’, will take on British journeyman Dave Allen (21-6-2, 18 KOs).
This will be Fisher’s first fight since his surgery, which ruled him out of his scheduled fight with Andrii Rudenko on the Catterall-Prograis undercard.
A seasoned and colorful veteran, Dave Allen has become a cult figure in British boxing, fighting the likes of Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz.
After a brief retirement, Allen returned to the ring in 2023 and remains a dangerous opponent, capable of bothering less experienced fighters.
Dennis McCann and Peter McGrail will also face each other, while Isaac Lowe and Lee McGregor will also go head to head on the undercard.
But it wasn’t the card that caught the most attention among the boxing community, it was the fact that Fury’s name appears first despite losing the opening fight.
Typically, the fighter who wins the first bout receives the most attention for the rematch, but this time, Fury’s name is front and center, a decision that has sparked surprise and speculation among fans and pundits alike.
In another heavyweight bout, Johnny Fisher (12-0, 11 KOs), also known as ‘The Romford Bull’, will take on British journeyman Dave Allen (21-6-2, 18 KOs).
Fury, the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’, suffered a close defeat to Usyk in their first meeting, which took place earlier this year.
The Ukrainian unified champion outclassed Fury in a tactical masterclass, retaining his WBA, IBF and WBO titles and adding Fury’s WBC belt to his collection.
It was a humiliating result for Fury, who had entered the ring undefeated, and many expected his size and unorthodox style would prove too much for Usyk.
Instead, it was Usyk’s speed, precision and boxing IQ that carried him to a unanimous decision victory.
Given the result, many expected Usyk, now the undisputed heavyweight champion, to take first place in the rematch.
In boxing tradition, the defending champion (especially one coming off a win in the previous fight) is usually the headliner.
However, promotional posters and marketing materials for the second fight list Fury’s name first, sparking debate over the reasoning behind the choice.
