Tyson Fury's promoter Frank Warren reported on Tuesday that the two-time heavyweight champion will exercise his rematch clause in a potential fight on October 12 in Saudi Arabia. Now, Fury has a chance to make some changes to his legacy, which still bears the scars of his first defeat.
“He's had a historic heavyweight career. He's one of the best heavyweights I've ever seen, one of the best fighters who ever lived.” Probox TV's Chris Algieri said on Monday's episode of “Deep Waters.”
Speaking before news broke Saturday that Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) would trigger a rematch with undefeated heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) following Usyk's split decision win in Saudi Arabia, Algieri and fellow analyst Paulie Malignaggi said it would make perfect sense to pursue a second crack.
That's what Usyk was thinking before the start of the eighth round, before he started rallying from a 68-65 deficit on two scorecards. [Fury] Stop Usyk,” Algieri said. “and if Usyk doesn't hurt [and knock down] Fury, Fury won that fight.
“I know you’re thinking about it in hindsight, but what if? [Usyk] won't fall [Fury] On the ninth time he loses the fight. Fury was in overwhelming control in rounds four, five, six and seven. Overwhelming boxing, beautiful boxing IQ. ”
Algieri noted that even after being knocked down, Fury did a “great job” of bouncing back, just as he did when he was disastrously knocked down in his first fight with Deontay Wilder. “He still knows.”
“I don't know what will happen in the rematch,” Algieri said after being told that Usyk was already established as a -200 betting favorite in the rematch.
Deep Waters analyst Paulie Malignaggi said Fury's first loss could invite reflective criticism that he was resting too much and in some cases “losing his competition,” but that he was “one of the best fighters of his generation and one of the best heavyweights of his time… the Wilder trilogy and [Wladimir] Klitschko's victory was historic.
“Every performance is so important. You're really under the microscope every time.”
Fury, 35, is set to face former three-belt champion Anthony Joshua in a huge British showdown if Joshua can reclaim the IBF belt, which will be awarded to the winner of Filip Hrgovic vs. Daniel Dubois on June 1. He still has the ability to develop.
Whether it's Joshua, Hrgovic or even a future Dubois, “those are great fights I want to see,” Malignaggi said.
Heritage damage is like dirt that can be scrubbed away.
“His record is losses. All great heavyweights have had losses,” Algieri said. “It doesn't change his legacy. It's certainly not the same as it was before the game, but if he comes back and wins, [Usyk] In Rematch, you get the entire trilogy – it's the Legacy Builder.
“i don't think so [loss] How could you hurt him that much? ”
