Usyk v Fury 2 Betting Preview
The festive sporting season gets off to a spectacular start tonight as the eyes of the world turn to Riyadh for the second instalment of the most anticipated heavyweight clash of the century.
Someone’s 0 had to go in the first instalment back in May, and in the end, it was the Gypsy King who came out on the wrong end of a split decision. Usyk, meanwhile, extended his record to a perfect 22-0 and became the undisputed champion of the world.
The endless politics of the boxing world and its collection of governing bodies mean the undisputed title isn’t up for grabs this time around - Usyk was forced to relinquish the IBF title earlier in the year. However, that still leaves the WBC, WBA and WBO belts up for grabs, and if the fight is as entertaining as the first, fans are in for a treat. Here, we look ahead to the main event and pick out our best bets.
At a towering 6ft9, Tyson Fury looks down upon most in the heavyweight division and such is the case here. 6 inches taller than his rival, that advantage extends to 7 inches in the reach department – an area Fury should be able to exploit if using his jab effectively. Whilst both men can certainly punch, neither is renowned as a knockout specialist, with the pair boasting similar KO percentages of 63.64% (Usyk) and 66.67% (Fury).
First Fight Review
For much of the first half of the May showdown, Tyson Fury seemed to be in control. Using his superior reach to his advantage and finding consistent success with uppercuts to the body, it appeared that the bigger man would come out on top.
And then came the ninth round. Caught off guard by a swinging left as he backed away against the ropes, Fury appeared to be closing in on dreamland. That he managed to survive a barrage of follow-up shots and stay upright on legs, which appeared to be made of spaghetti, was nothing short of remarkable. However, having slumped against the corner, he was forced to take a count, thus losing the round 10-8. With the final scorecards reading 115-112, 113-114, and 114-113 in favour of the wily Ukrainian, that ninth round was the difference between Fury and at least a split decision draw.
What To Expect This Time?
In the end, Fury’s defeat in the first bout came down to a lack of concentration in the second half of the fight. Was he simply too relaxed, having kept Usyk at bay, or was fatigue beginning to play a role?
Watching the first fight back, Fury should be able to win this if he sticks to his boxing, keeps out of range and outpoints the smaller fighter. However, the Morecambe man is rumoured to be significantly heavier this time, suggesting he is sticking to the goal of “knocking out the little rabbit”.
For Usyk, the plan will likely be much the same as the first fight. I.e. stick with Fury and stay disciplined early before beginning to assert in the second half of the fight. Despite being the older man, the Ukrainian is meticulous in his preparation and likely holds the edge if fitness becomes a key factor.
Best Bets
The oddsmakers have Usyk as the favourite to repeat his win from the first bout, and overall, we would agree with that assessment. No doubt that Fury is one of the greatest heavyweights of his generation, but there have been signs of decline in recent bouts. Far from spectacular against Derek Chisora in December 2022, he was then dropped in a points win over UFC star Francis Ngannou before that loss to Usyk.
At 37, Usyk may not be quite the force of old, but there have been few indications of a marked drop-off in form. Dominant in two bouts with Anthony Joshua, his knockout win over Daniel Dubois reads particularly well now, and he was surely only one more clean shot away from ending the first fight more emphatically. If there are doubts, they are that he was unable to put the Gypsy King away despite seeming sure to do so, and he did have problems with body shots both against Fury and in the Dubois fight.
From a betting perspective, the first punt we want on our side is the draw. These fighters are remarkably well-matched, and, if we take the ninth round out of it, the first fight would have been all but impossible to call. Provided Fury maintains his concentration, this should be close.
However, we always like to have the knockout options on our side in this division and will take a chance on two-round group options. If Fury is to become the first fighter to stop Usyk, his best chance comes in the first half of the fight before his additional bulk begins to take a toll. In contrast, Usyk’s superior fitness and expert movement may eke out an opportunity late, much as they did in the first instalment of this epic showdown.
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