Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Prediction on December 21, 2024

Match info

As a massive heavyweight ring rematch looms near, the men’s boxing 2024 Riyadh Season remains full of excitement. On Saturday, December 21, at 11 p.m. local time, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will rekindle their rivalry in the ring for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion (WBC, IBO, WBO, WBA) in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the main card event. As two of the best boxers in the world compete in the most coveted division for the second time in seven months, boxing fans are giddy. Usyk has started as the favorite based on the odds provided by betting sites with low deposits.

Meeting statistics

The current form of Oleksandr Usyk

Usyk, who’s undefeated in his professional career, is going to Saudi Arabia with the goal of improving his record to 23-0. However, the 37-year-old Ukrainian is aware that he’s also running out of time. Supporters of Usyk will unite under the idea that his opponent is losing ground and isn’t that much younger. Before his first defeat by Usyk, the Brit fought his way to a split decision draw with UFC star Francis Ngannou, with many viewers thinking the heavy-hitting African should have won. Less than five months later, Anthony Joshua would decisively put Ngannou out.

Even though he’s in an effort to make further history in Riyadh and demonstrate that he’s the greatest of this generation, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Usyk, gave up his IBF championship in June. Daniel Dubois then won the title and defeated Joshua in September to defend it. The three other major belts (WBA, WBO, and WBC) are still held by the Ukrainian. On Saturday, these will be available for getting.

Usyk, an Olympic champion, has achieved equal success in the professional and amateur spheres. He dominated the light-heavyweight class until 2019, at which point he advanced to the heavyweight class and ultimately won the title of absolute champion. A brilliant example of the amateur school of boxing, Usyk is a very technical, nimble, and intelligent boxer who consistently finds the keys to opponents who are bigger and more powerful. For the rematch with Fury, there’s no reason to doubt that the Ukrainian will be completely prepared.

The current form of Tyson Fury

Supporters of Fury will cling to the notion that their guy has performed admirably in past rematches. In his later fights with Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora, he stopped both of them after initially finding it difficult to defeat them when they first faced off. Perhaps the “Gypsy King” will have learned some important lessons from his fight with Usyk in May. After letting the Ukrainian gain the lead for extended periods of time, some commentators have urged Fury to attack and stop the clowning antics in Riyadh this time. That was Fury’s sole defeat of his career to date (34-1-1).

It's clear that Usyk will want to prove that his win in May wasn’t an “incident”, while Fury is on the unfamiliar ground after suffering his first professional loss. In addition to aiming to give his opponent his first professional defeat, the British fighter will be driven to exact revenge and win the titles for himself.

Fury has always been a good champion in the sense that he attracted huge crowds of fans with his charisma, fighting style, and behavior outside the ring. But from a sporting perspective, his career wasn’t without its share of controversial moments—at times terrible physical condition, doping scandals, and “cockroaches in the head”. Nevertheless, Fury defeated both his personal demons and everyone he faced in the ring and quite reasonably was number one in all ratings for a long time, regardless of weight categories.

Head-to-head

Although Usyk prevailed by a split decision in the first bout, some believe he won more convincingly, while others maintain it was a tight contest. One judge gave Fury a score of 114-113, while another gave Usyk a score of 115-112. Mike Fitzgerald gave the Ukrainian the victory, 114-113. Although many thought Fury got off to a good start and undoubtedly won Rounds 5, 6, and 7, the fight changed course in Rounds 8 and 9 when Usyk knocked Fury down and left him stumbling with his legs seemingly gone before the bell saved him.

Match analytics

We believe that the first fight with Usyk taught Fury a lot and brought him down to reality. The Brit, having had his fill in the last fight, will no longer be so naive and will pay much more attention to defense, and, moreover, the outsider’s role may even go in his favor. The second and third fights with Wilder showed that Fury is especially zealous about rematches, and therefore we won’t be surprised at all if this time he wins or even knocks out the Ukrainian champion. We don’t expect anything fundamentally new from Usyk—it will be the same tough pressing, based on incredible footwork and a sense of distance It’s true that bookmakers see Usyk as the favorite, but here it’s necessary to be careful if you’re a bettor; this is usually the case all the time, the favorite is the one who has already won one head-to-head. Thus, on Ruby Bet, Usyk’s victory is estimated at the odds of 1.68, while Fury’s victory is 2.10.

Tip: Money Line – Tyson Fury.