Oleksandr Usyk took to social media to send a playful yet pointed message to Tyson Fury, calling him “chubby” and advising him to work on his fitness ahead of their rematch on December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk’s comments come after Fury appeared poorly conditioned in their first fight in May, where he lost a split decision to the Ukrainian heavyweight champion.
Fury’s conditioning - or lack thereof - was noticeable, as he carried excess weight around his midsection during the fight. To stand a better chance in the rematch, Fury will need to drop significant weight, potentially aiming for the 247 lbs he weighed when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. That version of Fury, fast and agile, would be better equipped to handle Usyk’s speed.
Though Fury has reportedly slimmed down since the May fight, Usyk isn’t convinced it’ll be enough. Usyk, undefeated with a record of 22-0, 14 KOs, has hinted that he’s targeting a knockout this time around. He stated he intends to press Fury harder, building on the success he found in the ninth round of their first encounter, when Fury visibly struggled to withstand Usyk’s combinations.
"Put a mask on and take a run. Going after just the little guys, huh? What’s up, my chubby buddy?" Usyk quipped in his message to Fury, subtly mocking the British heavyweight’s physique.
Fury, who weighed 262 lbs in their last fight, will need to shed both weight and excuses if he wants to avoid a repeat defeat. In the May bout, Fury frequently backed into the ropes, relying on them for support as Usyk outworked him with superior conditioning and technique.
Read more the upcoming 2nd bout of Usyk and Fury here.
Image Credit: Sky Sports