Usyk is a genius in boxing and not just in sport, in life outside the ring too, and his mind games are top notch.
In that they are very abstract and almost undetectable, he doesn’t make it a point to talk trash but he tries to subtly get inside his opponents’ heads almost if you watch what he does at fighter meetings, mostly at face offs though when they actually meet and never in the media.
However, no one can out crazy Tyson Fury, that is clear at this point.
Speaking to BoxNation Fury said of Usyk’s mind games and more ahead of the big one on Saturday night:
“Omar (Box Nation): Tyson, are you already mic’d up?
Tyson Fury: Yeah, I’ve got someone’s mic on. Cheers.
Omar: This is Omar for Box Nation. We’re back in the Kingdom of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In your opinion, is this the biggest rematch since 1974—Frazier vs. Ali 2?
Tyson Fury: No, no.
Omar: What’s been bigger since then?
Tyson: I don’t know. I can’t remember any big rematches, to be fair. Me and Wilder was quite big, wasn’t it? Maybe Holyfield-Lewis—that was big.
Omar: You’ve got the beard back. Why is that, Tyson?
Tyson: Just to show my age and beauty. Gray, brown—it’s all there.
Omar: Is the Gypsy King back this Saturday?
Tyson: I’ll be ready to fight Saturday night, for sure.
Omar: Do you expect Usyk to be better this time around?
Tyson: Yeah.
Omar: How come? What can he do differently?
Tyson: I think he’s getting better with age, like a fine wine. We both are.
Omar: What was staggering in the first fight was, even after that hellacious ninth round, in the 12th round you looked fresher. As he walked away, he was breathing heavily, and you were smiling, kissing him, and looked fresh as a daisy. Just talk to me about your recovery powers—they’re quite insane.
Tyson: Yeah, thank God I’ve had decent recovery powers over the last 16 years as a professional. But I never take it for granted. I’ve been able to recover so many times, but you never know when that ability might fail you. Hopefully, that day never comes.
Omar: In that ninth round, he hit you with about 10 unanswered shots. As you walked back to your corner, you smiled at him. Do you think, in his head, he knows he can’t finish you now?
Tyson: Listen, you can never say never. But the man had his shot to get me out of there. He hit me with his 10 best shots—right on the button—and couldn’t put me down. So, yeah, he’s in a bit of trouble.
Omar: He sat here today and told me he’s in your head. Can you confirm that’s not the case?
Tyson: (Laughs) He’s in my head? Yeah, in a pink tutu, dancing around, clapping his hands, singing “Happy Birthday” and “Merry Christmas.”
Omar: Are you heavier for this fight, Tyson?
Tyson: I’ll be about 21 stone for this fight, yeah.
Omar: What were you last time?
Tyson: 17 stone, 12 pounds.
Omar: Wow, okay. Is that going to be the key for you?
Tyson: I think so, yeah.
Omar: One key I noticed in the first fight was the uppercut—head and body. You were landing it at will, really from rounds three to seven. Then something changed. What was that?
Tyson: What, round nine?
Omar: Yeah, round eight or nine onwards.
Tyson: Yeah, round eight I boxed really well. Round nine, I got caught, didn’t I? That’s part of boxing. Nothing really happened—I just got caught, and that was it.
Omar: You’re the king of rematches—McDermott, Chisora, Wilder. But this is a new scenario because you’re coming off a loss into a rematch. Will you be 10 times better this time?
Tyson: I believe so.
Omar: And do you believe you’ll stop Alexander on Saturday?
Tyson: We’ll find out Saturday night, won’t we?
Omar: Are we going to see a victory for the Gypsy King?
Tyson: I’ll do my best.
Omar: Is that uppercut still going to be a key for you—body and head? Because it looked good in the first fight.
Tyson: Not sure. We’ll see when we get in there—what’s open and what’s available.
Omar: I saw the FaceTime call with His Excellency, yourself, and Alexander. Is it clear to see who he’s backing?
Tyson: (Laughs) Yeah, it was funny—a funny little FaceTime. I watched it again today on video. He just wants the belts to come back to Britain, doesn’t he? He wants a trilogy fight. But unfortunately, I’m going to beat Usyk up so badly he probably won’t want a rematch. Who knows, though—stranger things have happened.
Omar: His Excellency also mentioned Vladimir Klitschko might come back. What are your thoughts on that?
Tyson: No thoughts. Good luck to the fellow. Whatever he wants to do, good luck to him.
Omar: Would you entertain a rematch with him?
Tyson: I’m a prizefighter—show me the money.
Omar: Tyson, I know you’re pressed for time. Brendan’s telling me to wrap this up. So just a final message to your fans around the world?
Tyson: See you all Saturday night, guys, for a victorious evening.
Omar: You’re a top man, Tyson. Cheers, mate.
Tyson: Cheers.”
Fury has been impressively quiet as the closer the fight gets this week, very serious about the job at hand, a good sign.
His trainer appears to have got him into strong condition and with good stamina, with the added weight too, which has shown in the past, to work for Fury.
It all comes down to game plan and execution on the night and adjusting, which, both fighters have shown to do well.
Fury’s heart is unmatched however, that cannot be counted out when the deep waters come for both men on Saturday night.
