Eddie Hearn questions if we’ve seen the best of Tyson Fury ahead of heavyweight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk
Eddie Hearn has weighed up whether boxing fans have already seen the best of Tyson Fury ahead of the Gypsy King’s heavyweight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury, 36, will face Usyk on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
He will be seeking to bounce back from the first defeat of his professional career back in May, with Usyk winning their first showdown by a split decision verdict.
Usyk’s victory saw the Ukrainian become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
This time around there will be three belts up for grabs, as Usyk has since vacated the IBF belt.
Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport ahead of the rematch, Hearn considered the question of whether Fury’s best days are now behind him.
Eddie Hearn weighed up whether fans have already seen the best of Tyson Fury
The promoter highlighted Fury’s fight against MMA star turned boxer Francis Ngannou prior to his first showdown with Usyk, as well as bouts with Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte.
‘Maybe, but I think we are also very quick to judge also,’ Hearn told Mail Sport.
‘The problem is, before the Usyk fight was Ngannou and he really didn’t look great in that fight at all, but it was Ngannou and it was awkward, was he motivated?
‘Before that it was Chisora which was quite straightforward for him and before that it was Dillian Whyte. At some point it is going to catch up with you.
‘Also, don’t forget that Usyk was shattered after that last fight, it was not an easy fight for him.
‘When they were taking him back to the changing rooms after the fight, he was like being held up. What did it take out of him?
‘Neither of these guys are spring chickens in the sport. So that last fight it will be interesting to see if it did take anything out of someone
‘Usyk seemed so confident in the interviews I have seen with him, talking like “I am the best, I am the pound for pound… I will stop him”. I have not really seen him like this before.
Hearn highlighted Fury’s unconvincing display in his victory over Francis Ngannou last year
The promoter also questioned how much the first fight may have taken out of Usyk
‘We will dissect the body language and who says what, but the reality is all that matters is 11pm on Saturday night.’
Fury has targeted setting up a potential trilogy with Usyk by beating the Ukrainian on Saturday.
He has claimed to have rewatched their first bout ‘a hundred times’ and will be making some adjustments in a bid to cause Usyk’s first defeat of his career.
Asked what will be different in the rematch Fury said; ‘I’m going to knock him out as promised.’
HOW TO WATCH: Click to register and watch Usyk vs. Fury 2 on DAZN here
