The biggest fight of the year is still to come, and it will go down in approx four weeks. It is of course the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. The first fight, which took place in May, was a great one, and fans hope to see another special fight on December 21st. For Fury, who lost via split decision and had to fight his way through THE toughest round of his career against Usyk, this that rocking and reeling ninth round, a win is essential.

For if Fury loses again, if he is even more comprehensively beaten this time, his legacy will be permanently affected. Never again would Fury be able to say, with a straight face, that he is the greatest fighter ever. It will all be on the line on December 21. And Fury says he will be coming in “hot” in the return fight. The two rival heavyweights have done a face-to-face, with the two sat across from each other, and there is clear mutual respect in place.

Usyk, who has vowed again to Fury that “I will not leave you alone,” insists he was never hurt in the first fight. Fury says the nose injury he suffered in the fight was no big deal. Now the two fighters have a few weeks with which to finish up training prep.

Fury is coming across as very confident.

“Four weeks to go, ’til the biggest fight of the year, the biggest fight in boxing, me and Usyk and I’m coming in hot,” Fury said in his social media video post. “I’m coming in HOT! Can’t wait. 21st of December, the belts are going to be mine again.”

Usyk, 22-0(14) seems to be a slight favourite right now, with the fans and with the experts. Usyk, a special, some say generational talent, will find a way to win again, say so many people. Fury, who fans have suggested does not look to be in what could be called great physical shape with less than a month to go, has people wondering what he has left at age 36. Usyk is the older man by over a year, but the difference is lifestyle. Out of the ring, Usyk has lived as clean as a whistle, Fury, 34-1-1(24) has not. This could prove crucial in the rematch.

Fury has boasted how he is great in rematches (with him stopping John McDermott, Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder in return bouts), but we all know Usyk is great at everything. In terms of mind games, Usyk may have the upper hand here. Still, what matters is what happens in the ring, and Fury could come in with a different game-plan this time. Then again, Usyk could switch things up himself.

It’s a fascinating fight. Neither man may fight on for too much longer after the rematch, and we could say both men face their single most important, crucial fight in the rematch. Usyk is the pick here, via a points decision once again. But Fury cannot be written off. At all.

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