Michael Moorer assesses Fury vs Usyk 2 rematch
Three-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, who was a guest at the WBC’s Annual Convention in Hamburg, has giving his expert and insightful view about the Fury-Usyk rematch.
The two best heavyweights in the world will lock horns for a second time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21, live on DAZN. Ukrainian Usyk triumphed by the narrowest of margins in their first encounter on May 21, with a pivotal 10-8 round in the ninth proving the difference on the scorecards.
Now 57, Michael was the first ever southpaw heavyweight champion and a light-heavyweight world champion prior to that.
‘Double M’ said, “It should be interesting because of the height and reach, plus the offensive skills they have.
“Mistakes will be corrected. Sugar Hill, who was tutored by Emanuel Steward at Kronk Gym, is Fury’s trainer, so they are going to be ready, but Usyk is an overall better fighter. He puts in the time and the work. Not to say that Fury doesn’t do this. It’s just my perception of how things go.
“I just hope it’s an exciting fight that everyone can be all geeked about it, like they were with the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul.”
Analysing Fury’s four knockdowns in his three fights with Deontay Wilder, Brooklyn-born Michael Moorer shrugged it off, saying, “I don’t know if it’s affected him. Anyone can get hit and anyone can go down. If takes a complete fighter to get up and win the fight, so you never know how it goes.
“Every fight is different. Oleksandr has the boxing tutelege under him. He’s a puncher and a crafty guy.
“Tyson Fury uses his height and reach to his advantage. But he also has skills and he’s a powerful puncher. They are both excellent fighters and hopefully they give the fans what they deserve.”
Their first fight, 31 weeks ago, see-sawed back and forth, with the early rounds a mixture, as the two undefeated world heavyweight champions settled into the contest, but it was the Briton who established a foothold in the contest to dominate the middle rounds, until Usyk came back in the final third to score a knockdown in the most dramatic round of the fight – ninth.
“Oleksandr was forcing the fight because he felt something. As a fighter you feel something in the ring which gives you a little edge. He landed a shot, hurt him and he knew it.
“People talk about it and say things about so many other fights, but it never turns out to be the fight that everybody expects it to be.
“Tyson Fury doesn’t like to lose and, if he loses, he comes back and wins. On the other hand, you have a guy who wins and hasn’t lost yet. He doesn’t know how to lose. He has the mentality of being a winner and always being the smart and complete fighter.”
Moorer was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024, alongside Ricky Hatton.
Review the first fight between Fury and Usyk HERE