BoxingScene Roundtable: What Next For Usyk And Fury?

Lance Pugmire

Tyson Fury: Given where he was on the scorecards after seven rounds, Tyson Fury needs to continue on the conditioning path that brought him to this first fight and lean heavier on the effectiveness of his jab while moving right back to an October rematch against Usyk. He can win that fight. He has the blueprint of this first fight to lean on to understand how.

Oleksandr Usyk: Usyk, of course, should feel confidence in embracing the quick rematch in October. As usual, he didn’t endure great punishment and he has a lucrative bout before him that — worse-case scenario — will only generate a trilogy bout. 

Matt Christie

Usyk could now retire and take his place as one of the absolute greatest of all-time. He’s 37 and won’t get any quicker or stronger from here on in. 

Another win over Fury might add another layer to his legend, likewise victory over Deontay Wilder should the Bronze Bomber get past Zhilei Zhang.

But not to the extent a loss would damage it. The longer he fights the likelier it is his magic powers will disappear. Tough to say goodbye when at the very top, but now would be the perfect time to do so.

Without an unbeaten record to protect, and money his apparent driver, Fury may well opt to pursue Anthony Joshua. It’s a fight that would still generate massive interest and one that Fury would likely be favoured to win.

If he fights Usyk again, and loses again, his chances of ever facing Joshua fade while the likelihood of an ugly end to his career increase.

Should he decide to continue, and take one more fight, the all-conquering Battle of Britain might be his best option.

Declan Warrington

Both should want a rematch. Fury, because he narrowly lost so competitive a fight and, because it’s the only defeat on his record, he’ll struggle to come to a place of peace with it if he doesn’t at least attempt to avenge it, and Usyk because it remains the biggest and most lucrative fight available to him.

There’s also no reason for Usyk to believe that he wouldn’t win a rematch at least as convincingly. Fury will need to consider what changes he may need to make before a rematch takes place.

Owen Lewis

It might sound ungrateful after a spectacle like that, but frankly, I’d love for both fighters to fast-track their retirement. Usyk has just authored the culmination of his longtime dream, clearing out the heavyweight division as a natural cruiserweight. What’s left to prove? He hasn’t taken too much damage throughout his career and is now a bona fide all-time-great. Few things would make me happier than seeing him ride off into the sunset before he descends from this incredible high. 

My reasons for wanting Fury to retire are more urgent. The big man has taken immense damage in the ring — start with him eating Deontay Wilder’s atomic right hand dozens of times, end with him stumbling literally from pillar to post in round nine against Usyk. I thought Fury performed very well overall, likely better than he had since the second Wilder fight (and against a better opponent). But I was concerned at Fury’s reaction to that Usyk fusillade. We’ve seen Fury down many times, but never hurt like that — I saw his eyes cross multiple times during the sequence and he was not adequately defending himself as he staggered across the ring. The knockdown call may have been correct, but I believe the referee should have stepped in to stop the fight a few seconds before that. I don’t want to think about how much more damage Fury took in those 15 seconds and I doubt Fury does either. He may have lost, but he redeemed himself from the Ngannou debacle in defeat, so he, too, could and should prioritize his departure from this brutal sport.

Kieran Mulvaney 

As a rule, I despise rematch clauses. It’s because of rematch clauses that we have to endure the likes of Haney-Kambosos II. That doesn’t mean that sometimes rematches are absolutely the way to go, and this is most assuredly one of those times. When the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world is effectively decided by a one-point swing in either direction, when the first fight involves multiple changes of momentum, when both men give their all in a fight that fans love, then absolutely there should be a rematch. There is, notwithstanding the IBF seeking to enforce its mandatory, nobody else who deserves priority. Let both men heal up – which will take a while – and recover emotionally and physically, then give them the opportunity to make a ton more money doing it again.

John Evans

Provided both fighters want to continue fighting, there should be a rematch before the end of the year. The fight more than matched expectations and there were enough twists and turns to provide plenty of intrigue ahead of a return.

It sometimes feels like the sport is at risk of grinding to a halt due to the number of rematches that take place these days but this one would be warranted. Usyk has no challengers as skilled, dangerous or attractive as Fury and the “Gypsy King” deserves the chance to even the score. Fighting Joshua would be a lucrative, box office smash but having already had one look at him, Fury should focus on beating Usyk. 

Tris Dixon 

It doesn’t always work out that we want to see obligated rematches, but many would be all-in seeing this again. It would be bigger the second time around and it is the logical fight for both. 

You could say that if Wilder zaps Zhang on June 1, Usyk could pick him apart to have defeated his major rivals, but I don’t think that’s something he needs to prove. Come to think of it, he has nothing left to prove and I would not be against seeing Usyk sail off into the sunset. 

The Joshua fight is still there for Fury, too, but with this era perhaps starting to wrap up, it’s actually a little concerning to look down the list of those who have these significant shoes to fill.