Can We Expect More Fireworks Closer to Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury II?

On May 18, 2024, Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) created history, defeating Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis. The rematch will take place at the same venue, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on December 21. Usyk will defend his WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight titles. Before their first fight, Big John Fury was involved in a heated altercation with a member of Usyk’s team. Fight week is upon us and could we see similar fireworks as we did in May? Let’s analyse how this event will affect the build-up to the rematch as well as their odds where any fan can bet without Gamstop restrictions.

Will We Witness More Fireworks Closer to Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Rematch

Reliving John Fury’s Explosive Confrontation Before Usyk vs. Fury 1

John Fury, known for his outspoken and aggressive nature, once again demonstrated his fiery temper during a meeting between Fury’s and Usyk’s camps. What began as a heated verbal exchange escalated to a near-physical altercation, drawing heavy criticism from boxing enthusiasts and commentators.

Read More: Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: George Groves Breaks Down Keys to Victory

The tension reached a boiling point when John Fury headbutted one of Usyk’s team members. This incident sparked intervention from security staff who stepped in to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Usyk’s Calm Response

In stark contrast to John Fury’s rage, Usyk remained composed throughout the incident. When Big John attempted to challenge him and force a confrontation, the Ukrainian did not react aggressively. Instead, he continued with his duties, heading towards the media room to complete his interviews and maintain professionalism.

Read More: ‘I Believe He Can’: Frank Warren on Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk Rematch

The situation left many wondering if John Fury’s presence was beneficial to his son’s camp, as his actions appeared to be causing more chaos than providing support. Usyk’s composed demeanour won him praise from both fans and commentators, with many admiring his calmness amid the chaos.

Tyson Fury’s Reaction to His Father’s Actions

Tyson Fury, who was conducting media interviews in a side room at the time of the incident, initially seemed unaware of the scuffle involving his father. He was later seen reacting to the footage of his father, joking about the situation, although he acknowledged that the event might have gone too far.

Upon realising what had transpired, Tyson Fury became more serious, mentioning in an interview that he would “take revenge in the ring” for his father. Despite appearing amused at first, Tyson’s comments hinted that he would use the incident as motivation in his upcoming fight.

Read More: Fury vs. Usyk 2: George Groves Discusses ‘The Gypsy King’s’ Rumoured Heavier Weight

John Fury later issued an apology for his behaviour, though he justified his actions by pointing to the “disrespect” shown to his son by Usyk’s team. He explained that emotions and tensions were running high, particularly with the stakes of the heavyweight rematch. While he apologised to the public, John Fury remained adamant that he was provoked and had acted out of defence for his son.

The Fallout: Fans’ Reaction

The dramatic events surrounding the altercation led to a divided response from the boxing community. Some fans have expressed sympathy for John Fury, arguing that he acted out of loyalty to his son. However, a large portion of the boxing fanbase is not as forgiving.

Boxing forums and social media sites were flooded with calls for action against John Fury. Many believe that his behaviour set a poor example for the sport, and some called for him to be banned from attending Tyson Fury’s future matches. On the platform X (formerly Twitter), one fan commented, “Why does John Fury have to make it about him? Never seen any other boxer’s dad crave the limelight like this.” Others referred to him as an “absolute clown,” emphasising how his actions were bringing negative attention to the sport.

George Groves Discusses John Fury

In an interview with the Sports Daily, George Groves was asked about John Fury being quiet in the rematch build-up, and whether he thinks John has been told to stay out of the limelight: “Yeah, he could have been told that. If I was part of the Fury team, I would advise John Fury to step back a touch. But I think he can’t help it, that’s who he is. That’s part of his nervous makeup and he will know that he’s nervous this time around you know so let’s see how he performs in fight week,” said Groves.

He continued: “I wasn’t a fan of the headbutt that he did you know in the build up and but he’s part of the promo video, he’s part of the scenes, part of the character.”

Fury vs. Usyk 2 fight week is almost here, promising an entertaining build-up and a rematch filled with fireworks and intrigue.