Tyson Fury Could Bulk Up For Oleksandr Usyk Rematch

Tyson Fury hinted on social media that he plans on adding some bulk to his frame for his rematch against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In Fury’s last fight against Usyk, which he lost by a 12 round split decision, he weighed 262 lbs on May 18th.

On social media, the 36-year-old Fury posted a couple of photos, one being the 262-lb version of himself against Usyk and the other weighing 277 lbs for his trilogy match against Deontay Wilder on October 9, 2021. Fury spoke favorably of how he looked at 277, suggesting that he’s going to add some weight to his frame.

Unfortunately, it might not help Fury because he’s 36 years old now, not the 33-year-old who fought Wilder in 2021. Also, Fury isn’t fighting the non-technical Wilder, who looked outclassed in the skills department in all three of their fights.

The real problem is Fury has aged and isn’t the same fighter he was three to four years ago when he fought Wilder. It’s physically impossible for Fury to transform himself into the 277-lb behometh that defeated the hopelessly lost Deontay because he’s aged too much. However, even that version of Fury would have problems against Usyk because he would be too slow and would make himself a target for the sharp counter-punching.

Fighting passively is what saved Fury from being knocked out by Usyk last May. That and the referee, who gave Fury a standing eight count instead of waving the fight off in the ninth round when he was badly hurt by Usyk.

Fury is fighting Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs), and he’s a far more talented fighter than him. Moreover, Usyk is lighter on his feet, quicker, and more agile. So, even if Fury does bulk up to the high 270s, it’s not going to help him against Usyk. On the contrary, it’ll slow Fury down, making him even more of a target for Usyk’s punches than the last time they fought.

“Was in the shape of my life, but this is not the Gypsy King,” said Tyson Fury on social media about the condition he was in for his fight against Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year on May 18th.

“This is him, 19st 11-lbs bruiser,” Fury said about the 277 lbs that he weighed for his third fight against Deontay Wilder.

Fury would be better off coming in lighter for the rematch with Usyk rather than heavier because he’s going to need every bit of speed he can get to prevent getting knocked out