Fury “Will Not Take Things For granted” against Usyk in Rehab, Todd DuBoef Says

Top Rank promoter Todd DuBoef feels that Tyson Fury was naive and took things too lightly in his fight with Oleksandr Usyk last May. That led to Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) fading in the middle rounds and losing a 12-round split decision in Riyadh.

Fury was injured by a shot to the nose in the eighth round and was defeated by a left hand by Usyk in the ninth round. Fury looks in bad shape and would have been stopped if it wasn’t for the referee giving him eight standing points after he fell through the ropes.

DuBoef expects former WBC heavyweight champion Fury to be promoted in his rematch with WBA, WBC, and WBO champion Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

According to Duboef, Fury’s problems caused him to let himself go after a good start in the first round. However, it looks like a return to Fury’s old ways with his decision to use ropes to lean on to avoid being shot. Usually, that works for him in his fights, but it didn’t this time. Usyk shot him with a gun.

Fury, 36, has lost weight, and has plenty of time to shed more pounds before the rematch with Usyk in December. If Fury’s weight was the reason he didn’t perform well in the first fight against Usyk, he should have taken that into account in the rematch.

“In those middle rounds, it felt like he was just draining him, and I think he just lost his energy and confidence,” said Todd DuBoef on Sky Sports Boxing. “I think he learned a lesson, and it was a hard lesson. But I also believe that the other guy will be better at this because he has more confidence.

“I think he’s not going to take things lightly, and I think he’s learned a hard lesson.”

Fury’s last performance may not be a case of him being “a slouch, as DuBoef believes, but rather that he’s fighting a better fighter than he is.”

Usyk has improved significantly from the guys Fury used to eat during his professional career, and he hasn’t faced a challenge since 2015. Fury’s best win since his career-best win over 39-year-old Wladimir Klitschko. Deontay Wilder, and he is nowhere near the top level.