Tyson Fury is expected to make several changes ahead of his fast approaching rematch with bona fide heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk on December 21.
The pair will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following their pulsating clash back in May, when Oleksandr Usyk edged a split decision to claim the undisputed crown.
But while Tyson Fury insists that he deserved to emerge victorious, the Brit was, at times, comprehensively outfoxed by his immensely technical opponent.
Not only that, but the Ukrainian proved that he has the power to hurt Fury, coming just a whisker away from producing a stunning finish in the ninth round.
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Adam Booth weighs in on Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2
While Usyk will take an enormous amount of confidence from their first encounter, his heavyweight rival, too, happens to possess a few tricks up his sleeve.
Despite struggling to nullify the 37-year-old’s dynamic footwork, Fury nonetheless enjoyed several pockets of success throughout their 12-round spectacle.
On more than one occasion, ‘The Gypsy King’ was able to stamp his authority on the fight, landing a series of clean combinations to command Usyk’s respect.
What is more, this will be Fury’s fourth professional rematch, with the most notable sequel of his career, against Deontay Wilder, ending in devastating fashion.
And so, when considering his stunning victory over Wilder, along with his murderous right uppercut, esteemed boxing trainer Adam Booth believes that Fury will make the necessary adjustments to beat Usyk.
“[Fury fought] the biggest punching heavyweight out there, and was fearless enough to do something different – to do something we’d never really seen him do before,” Booth said on Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe Boxing Podcast.
“So he’s proved, mentally, he can make that change. I expect him to [do the same] in this fight.
“He’s proved that he can hurt Usyk. Regardless of what Usyk said, we know that right uppercut buzzed him and sent him numb for a little bit.
“So Tyson knows that shot is there for him. I think Usyk’s shown what he can be, and I think Usyk has maximised his potential in that fight.”
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Oleksandr Usyk’s last defeat was over 16 years ago
Booth, who has previously trained former world champions such as George Groves and David Haye, is undoubtedly a trusted voice in the world of boxing.
But still, it is difficult to look past Usyk’s decorated professional and amateur records ahead of his rematch with Fury.
After all, ‘The Cat’ has not lost a fight since 2009, several years before he became an Olympic gold medallist and two-division undisputed champion.
Fury, meanwhile, has had multiple life-and-death moments throughout his career and, in truth, does not possess the same pedigree as his remarkably talented opponent.