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Lennox Lewis has suggested Tyson Fury’s key to beating Oleksandr Usyk may be his weight, after the “Gypsy King” came up short in his first fight with the Ukrainian.
Usyk beat Fury via split decision in May to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lewis in 2000. And on 21 December, the pair will clash in Saudi Arabia again. This time, however, only three of the four major belts will be on the line.
In the first fight, Fury largely fought on the back foot after coming in at his lightest weight in four years. In December, the Briton should take a different approach, according to Lewis.
“I think Fury learnt what he needs to do next time, because he didn’t do enough” Lewis told Indy Sport columnist Steve Bunce on the BBC 5 Live boxing podcast.
“He needs to do a lot more. I like him a bit heavier for his fights and not moving around as much.
“He has to conquer his own self first. He’s been through these things before, so I think he can do it, because he knows what to do.
“He’s been at lows before and at highs before. He’s down here right now, he knows how to get back up here. He just needs to put in the work.”
Fury, 36, has a promising record in rematches. The former champion holds three wins over Derek Chisora and improved upon his controversial draw with Deontay Wilder in 2018, later knocking out the American in two separate bouts. He also beat John McDermott twice, early in his career.
Lewis knows a thing or two about rematches as well. The British-Canadian was stopped by Hasim Rahman in April 2001 but avenged that loss with a knockout win seven months later. Earlier in his career, Lewis also bounced back from a TKO by Oliver McCall to stop the American in their rematch. And in 1999, Lewis fought Evander Holyfield to a draw before winning their second clash – to become undisputed.
“Every day I woke up training for this person, ready for this person, thinking about them the whole day. I took it real serious,” said Lewis, 59.
“Wake up every day to their picture, stick it on the wall, and be thinking about them all the time. It’s a mental war you’re going in against.”
Fury’s loss to Usyk was the first of his professional career, while Usyk – a former undisputed cruiserweight champion – remained unbeaten with the victory.
Usyk, 38, will also take encouragement from his success in a rematch with Anthony Joshua, whom he outpointed in 2021 and 2022.
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