The highly anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will take place in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, six months after their first clash.
Usyk emerged victorious in their initial encounter, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing history. Fury, however, is determined to bounce back and has made significant adjustments to his training camp ahead of the fight.
In preparation, both fighters have adopted vastly different approaches. Usyk, who has spoken daily to his wife and children, has found motivation in the absence of his family for the past five months.
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury stirred up headlines with his unusual open workout ahead of his heavyweight title rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. Arriving in Riyadh this week, Fury is preparing to avenge his close split-decision loss from seven months ago, which cost him his WBC belt.
The crowd gathered at the Boulevard World shopping mall for his Wednesday night open workout expected a typical training session.
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Instead, they watched as Fury had his gloves put on by his trainer, SugarHill Steward, before walking around the ring and quickly removing them without throwing a punch.
A bearded Fury then gave a brief interview, where he made ominous statements like “A lot of pain. Smash and damage” when asked about surprises for the weekend. When questioned about shaving his beard, he replied only with “A lot of hurt,” and reiterated, “Hurt. Serious hurt.”
Fury, 36, has been away from his wife Paris and children for three months, having had no contact with them during his camp in Malta. Fury's strategy is to minimise distractions in hopes of staying focused for the high-stakes rematch.
Fury has faced a number of challenges in the lead-up to this fight, including an eye injury and chaotic camp conditions that contributed to his split-decision loss. Despite these setbacks, he has remained confident and resolute in his preparation.
"It's been a long camp, but it'll all be worth it," Fury said. His wife Paris, who lost their baby just before the first fight, has fully supported his decision to focus solely on training, sacrificing personal contact during this crucial period.
With both fighters having sacrificed family time and endured personal hardships, the rematch is expected to be an emotionally charged battle. As Fury looks to avenge his loss, Usyk seeks to confirm his place in history as one of boxing's all-time greats.
