Ahead of the December 21 heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, both fighters appeared for a press conference to formally announce the fight and talks about their expectations for the title fight. Here’s some of what both fighters had to say below.
Fury on his mindset heading into the rematch with Usyk
“It’s about been four-and-a-half years was the Wilder 2 fight, that was the last time I was the underdog in these fights. What’s going through me mind? I’m just looking forward to a fantastic fight. You know, last time in May it was a fantastic fight, Oleksandr won the fight fair and square. Just looking to put on a great fight again. It was a very close fight, got it by a point, a little bit more focus, a little bit more lack of complacency and I should do the job, what I to do.
“Nothing drastic has to change. A bit more the same, a little bit more focus like I say, and I will be victorious.”
Usyk on his thoughts about the rematch
“What is my motivation? I don’t have motivation, only my regime, only my concentration — this is my motivation.”
Fury on facing Usyk for a second time
“As it would seem, my rematch with people always end up one way. I always end up knocking them out in the rematch, whoever I’ve faced more than once has been knocked out in the rematch. So I’m envisioning somewhat similar in the second fight with Usyk. All I can do is prepare well, train hard, eat well, go to bed early, wake up early, do the right things, listen to the people around me, and the rest is in God’s hands.
“And last time in May it wasn’t my time to win or else the almighty would’ve given me the victory. And I’m very happy that Usyk got the decision because God’s timing is not late, it’s not imperfect — it’s perfection. So that was meant to be and we’re going to find out what’s meant to be on December the 21st. I believe it’ll be my time this time and I believe all the things that happen negative or positive are lessons. We must learn from the things that we go through in our lives and we can only do the best we can do as human beings and as boxers and as fathers and as husbands and as everything else.”
Usyk on his new look that strongly resembles Agent 47 from Hitman
“[Quietly strokes the fabric on his suit]. I don’t know.”