Tyson Fury has sparked speculation about his strategy for the upcoming heavyweight title rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, after revealing an impressive new muscular physique during sparring sessions.
Fury, 36, is looking to avenge his defeat to Usyk in May, which saw the Ukrainian boxer claim the unified heavyweight title. The Gypsy King has been keeping a low profile as he works with trainer SugarHill Steward in a rigorous training camp ahead of their December 21 clash.
In their first encounter, Usyk outboxed Fury, using his superior athleticism to overcome Fury’s size and reach advantage. However, Fury now appears determined to leverage his physicality in their rematch, having significantly bulked up in the past few months.
The Wythenshawe-born boxer has recruited a range of sparring partners for preparation, including South African heavyweight Kevin Lerena. After a recent sparring session, Lerena shared a photo with Fury, showcasing the latter’s noticeably larger frame.
Fury previously weighed in at 18st 7lbs (259lbs) for his first fight against Usyk, but his new physique suggests he may come in even heavier for the rematch. His heaviest recorded fight weight was 19st 8lbs (276lbs) during his crossover fight with Francis Ngannou.
Fans have weighed in on the new look, with many suggesting Fury should use his weight advantage to overcome Usyk’s technical skill. One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I feel Usyk has Fury beat in terms of skills, so Fury has to use his weight advantage, which he didn’t last time.” Another added, “Yes, I think he needs to come in heavy and get back to what he does best—putting his weight on fighters to tire them down and catch them with his power. He can still move great when he’s heavy.”
This approach mirrors Fury’s tactics in his dominant win over Deontay Wilder in their first rematch, where he used his size to pin the American in the corner and unleash a barrage of punches.
However, some critics argue that adding more weight could play into Usyk’s hands by diminishing Fury’s stamina. One user commented, “Fury’s best performance was against Klitschko. But Usyk is not Wilder, and Fury’s stamina issues in May were clear. Showing up heavier could make things even harder for him.”
The highly anticipated rematch will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles on the line.
