Tyson Fury is planning to enter his highly anticipated rematch with Oleksandr Usyk nearly a stone heavier than their first encounter.
The British heavyweight is targeting a weight of 19 stone 7lbs (273lbs) for the December 21 bout, up from the 18 stone 10lbs he weighed in their initial clash in May.
The weight increase appears to be part of Fury’s strategy to adopt a more aggressive approach after suffering the first defeat of his professional career.
This weight strategy mirrors Fury’s successful approach in his trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
Tyson Fury is planning on coming in heavy against Oleksandr Usyk
PA
For his first Wilder bout in 2018, Fury weighed 18st 4.5lbs and fought defensively in a contest that ended in a draw.
He then added 17lbs for the rematch, coming in at 19st 7lbs, which proved effective as he secured a seventh-round stoppage victory.
In their third encounter, Fury went even heavier at 19st 11lbs, ultimately achieving a tenth-round knockout despite early difficulties.
Boxing pundit Gareth A Davies explained Fury’s evolution as a fighter over the years.
“When Tyson beat Klitschko nine years ago he was a 27-year-old, very light on his feet, he bamboozled opponents with those telescopic arms, his movement and tying fighters up,” Davies told talkSPORT Fight Night.
“That version went away in the three fights with Deontay Wilder, certainly the second and third fights where he became a bigger hitter at 19 and a half stone.”
However, former three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie has issued a stark warning about Fury’s weight strategy.
“Bigger and better isn’t going to beat Usyk. It’s really not,” McKenzie told talkBOXING Podcast.
“If he puts on more weight and thinks to himself ‘I’m going to bully Usyk this time, I’m going to go in and walk him down’, it’s not going to work for him.”
“He’s going to be slower, he’s going to be more predictable, he’s going to get hit more and a lot sooner.”
Tyson Fury has been warned against coming in heavy against Oleksandr Usyk
PA
McKenzie was emphatic in his prediction: “Usyk wins the rematch all day long, I can’t see how Tyson Fury beats him.”
The weight strategy represents a significant gamble for Fury ahead of the December rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury suffered his first career loss against Oleksandr Usyk
PA
While the increased bulk proved successful against Wilder’s power-punching style, McKenzie believes this approach could backfire against the more technically skilled Usyk.
The contrasting views from boxing experts highlight the high stakes of Fury’s tactical decision, as he seeks to avenge his first professional defeat through a more aggressive, heavyweight-focused gameplan.