Hearn: Fury Must Be More Aggressive In Usyk Rematch

Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury will need to be more aggressive and take the fight to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk so that he can have a shot at winning their rematch on December 21st.

Hearn’s fighter, Anthony Joshua, failed twice to beat Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), so he isn’t exactly sure what will work against the talented Ukrainian fighter.

The Matchroom boss, Hearn, wants Fury to win, but he’s helpless to give him any useful advice because he’s 0-2 against him. Hearn knows that it probably won’t end well for Fury. He’s an old 36, and all the things that he would need to be victorious, he doesn’t possess physically. Fury needs the Fountain of Youth something fierce to win.

All he knows is that what Fury attempted the last time they fought on May 18th was ineffective, and he was nearly knocked out in a 12-round split decision defeat.

Strategies for Fury 

• Use aggression
• Roughhouse tactics
• Stay in the center of the ring
• Movement
• Throw body shots

Much of the things Fury can try require energy and youth that he no longer has going for him. He’s shown that his legs are gone at 36, and he physically can’t move like he did in 2015 when he recorded his best career win over Wladimir Klitschko.

“The one thing Usyk is incredible at is imputing the data during the fight and putting together a game plan to overcome that style, that tactic, whatever,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV about Oleksandr Usyk being hard to beat in his rematch with Tyson Fury.

What Usyk used last time to defeat Fury was pretty simple. He used a lot of up-and-down feints and body shots and then took over the fight in the eighth round when the Gypsy King gassed out.

Hearn Has “No Idea” How Fury Can Win

“The 6’3″, 15-stone guy walked down and beat up a 6’9″, 20-stone Tyson Fury. I think that’s gone underappreciated what he actually did in that fight because it’s not really his style. I do feel that Tyson has to be more aggressive in the fight, but that’s actually going to suit Oleksandr Usyk,” said Hearn.

Fury has to decide whether to fight off the ropes or go on the attack, looking to overpower Usyk with his size. He’s not going to be able to maul Usyk like he did against Deontay Wilder in fights #2 and #3. That’s not going to work. If Fury goes forward, looking to catch Usyk with a big uppercut, he might get lucky and knock him out. Throwing to the body would be the best bet, but he’ll leave himself open by using that approach

“I have no idea how to beat him, but Tyson Fury is a very smart fighter,” said Hearn. “He has smart people in the corner, but also, from an IQ level in boxing, he’s right up there. Unfortunately, so is Oleksandr Usyk. So, my money, especially when he’s won the first fight, will always be on Oleksandr Usyk.

“My heart wants to see a Tyson Fury win. Not just because he’s British but also because I want to set up the AJ fight. I’d love to see him do, but I do see him as the underdog in this fight,” said Hearn.

I can imagine how Hearn must feel seeing Fury about to lose for the second time and knowing that once he does, it will wreck the money for a clash with Joshua. Hearn is powerless to help Fury. How can one drowning man save another? Hearn’s fighter, Joshua, has his own problems, and he’s doing all he can to help keep his sagging career afloat.

Hearn is only keeping Joshua inactive, steering him away from a rematch with Daniel Dubois, and having his way with the outcome of the Fury-Usyk II rematch.