Fans are wondering if Tyson Fury can enter his rematch with unified heavyweight champion Alexander Usyk without trimming his long beard in his headliner at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Furi’s Facial Fortification
The chin could be a way for Fury to cushion the blows Usyk will throw at him so he doesn’t get knocked out. Having a Paul Bunyan the lumberjack beard could save Fury from being knocked out by Usyk, giving him a chance to win on the scoresheet.
It’s not really fair if Fury has a beard that is defended as historic Mazino line. Should Usyk find a way to defeat this defensive fortress? Will the defense of the beard hold up under Usik’s strategic attacks?
Undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev is allowed to fight with a beard, but he’s not the same length as Fury’s, and he didn’t have a problem with heavy punches the way Gypsy King has.
“Knock him out.” That’s what me and (trainer) Sugar (Hill Steward) are planning, to get him out of there,” Tyson Fury told Fight Hub TV, revealing his primary goal for a rematch against Alexander Usyk on Saturday night.
“Last time I did everything perfectly. I didn’t understand. It was a close fight. This time, it will be a different fight. I will be a different person, a different fighter. I was 40% last time. 110% this time.
“It’s not true. I did some sparring, but not as much as I wanted. Let’s say it. I don’t want to make excuses, but let’s just say that the real Tyson Fury will show up on Saturday night. I believe I will knock him out. I don’t think I will do that. “I know I will,” Fury said.
If Fury fails to knock out Usyk and gets stopped himself, we’ll see if Turki Alalshik is still interested in paying him big money for his fights as it would be his third straight, straight loss if you count what should have been a loss vs. Francis Ngannou on October 28, 2023.
“When he comes to attack, I will destroy him for sure.” I have always been fearless in heavyweight waters. I’ve proven it time and time again. “I’m here to put on a great show and get back everything I’ve lost,” Fury said.
Tyson’s resume is too limited to say he’s “always been fearless” throughout his career, as the only two notable world-class fighters he’s faced and beaten are a then-39-year-old Wladimir in 2015 and Deontay Wilder. Klitschko was clearly old and washed up, and Wilder was a shaky fighter whose best career win before the Fury fight was against 40-year-old Luis Ortiz.
Even in Wilder’s case, it’s fair to point out that he earned two knockout wins over Fury in fights no. 1 and no. That number referee Jerry Royce gave Fury in the 12th round of the first fight was so crazy. In the third fight, Fury was given what many saw as a long count after Wilder dropped him in the fourth round. Fury has a checkered past when it comes to avoiding losses, and the referees have made strange calls that have gone in his favor.
Fury’s Weight
“I’m the heaviest I’ve been in years.” I weigh about 295 lbs. Show me the money. I am a prizefighter; that’s what i do. So Klitschko wants another hiding. I’m the man to do it,” Fury said of Turki Alalshih reportedly being interested in setting up a rematch between them.
Fury is clearly nowhere near 295 or even 280. His weight looks closer to 255 to 260. A fight against 48-year-old Wladimir Klitschko probably won’t be an option if Fury loses to Usyk on Saturday night; it would take away a lot of interest from the small number of fans who would want to see that match.
