Oleksandr Usyk exclusive: Ukrainian vows to beat Tyson Fury - 'I want to smack his face until his cheeks go red'
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Updated 19/12/2024 at 13:18 GMT
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will go to war once again in their eagerly-anticipated heavyweight championship rematch. After beating 'The Gypsy King' in their first meeting in May courtesy of a split decision, Ukrainian Usyk has predicted he will come out on top against the Brit when they meet for a second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on TNT Sports Box Office.
‘And still!’ – Usyk insistent he will beat Fury again
Video credit: TNT Sports
Oleksandr Usyk is confident he will once again emerge victorious against Tyson Fury in their heavyweight title rematch.
The two fighters lock horns for a second time this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21, live on TNT Sports Box Office.
Usyk added Fury’s WBC crown to his WBC, WBO and IBF titles following a split decision victory over the Brit in May, becoming undisputed champion in a second weight class and inflicting the first loss of his opponent’s career.
Speaking exclusively to Steve Bunce for TNT Sports, the Ukrainian former undisputed cruiserweight champion predicted the same outcome in his second tussle with ‘The Gypsy King’.
"I don’t want to say," he responded when asked how he will win the fight "The freak and the rabbit’s hands is going to be up in the air, then the words’ which will echo around the arena ‘AND STILL…’"
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'I've never been as confident' - Fury threatens to 'smash' Usyk in heavyweight rematch
Video credit: TNT Sports
The build-up to both fights has seen Fury engage in his trademark trash talk in an attempt to unsettle his opponent, with the challenger claiming he will "destroy" Usyk when they meet again.
However, the champion insists he is unfazed by Fury’s bluster and suggested that his route to victory once again comes from keeping a level head before and during the fight.
"Of course. Yes, I enjoy this," Usyk laughed about the pre-fight hype. "Because these are the emotions, these are the memories that when we are two old men, he [Tyson] promised to come to Ukraine to my ranch. We’re going to be drinking beer and he will say ‘remember how you beat me twice’.
"I want to smack his face until his cheeks go red. But I keep in mind that I have to be calm."
- Fury vows to ‘destroy’ Usyk, predicts ‘good old-fashioned hiding’
- Frampton backs Fury to 'edge' Usyk rematch - 'Going to be tight'
- Usyk v Fury 2: How to watch live on TNT Sports Box Office
Despite his confident demeanour, Usyk says he has been trying to find ways in which to improve upon his first performance in order to make sure he gets the job done again.
The 37-year-old puts his 22-0-0 professional record on the line in Riyadh, and also discussed how much he strives to achieve his own version of perfection when fighting.
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'Prepared for the party' - Usyk promoter Krassyuk previews Fury rematch
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I have done not just something, I have done a lot," he claimed. "My team, we had a discussion. We found the disadvantages and we worked on them.
"I have no idea whether I improve myself but I did the hard work.
"On December 21 we are going to see the results."
He added: "I have found it [perfection]. I have found it everywhere. It’s complicated to look for the order. You have to keep yourself focused because you can always build up and down in your life and stay focused. I have found my balance. I have found my perfection."
'The big wardrobe can fall down'
Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter, believes that the rematch will indeed go the way of his fighter in a more "dramatic" encounter than the original bout.
Krassyuk even suggests that his compatriot will end the fight ahead of the scheduled 12 rounds this time, with a knockout victory for Usyk a possibility.
"He’s capable of doing this [beating Fury again] but the victory will come from the Lord," he said.
"I know that he has done everything that he could and that was required from him, and there is absolutely nothing he would be sorry about.
"I’m pretty sure Tyson did some homework as well and I’m pretty sure Tyson is coming for the victory.
"This is going to be a way more dramatic fight this time than it was before. For me, it shouldn’t go the distance this time.
"I think the big wardrobe [Fury] can fall down with some noise."
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'Not a word' - Fury claims not to have spoken to wife Paris 'for three months' ahead of Usyk bout
Video credit: TNT Sports
How to watch Usyk v Fury 2?
discovery+ - TNT Sports Box Office events are now available to purchase and watch in the discovery+ app – on smart TVs, computer or mobile device, viewers wanting to watch the fight should visit https://www.discoveryplus.com/gb/ppv-purchases and follow instructions to register and then purchase the event.
EE TV - Customers can purchase the event via their STB on channel 494.
Virgin Media TV - Customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View events rail.
Prime Video - Customers do not need to have a Prime or discovery+ subscription to access this event. You can find live and upcoming PPV events in the "Live and upcoming events" row on the Prime Video homepage and sports page, or by searching for a specific event title.
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