Zhang Zhilei believes that the Ukrainian is capable of knocking out the Briton.
Former WBO interim world heavyweight champion Zhang Zhilei shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch between the Ukrainian WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO title holder Alexander Usyk and Briton Tyson Fury.
The 41-year-old Chinese boxer is confident of the Ukrainian's victory. Moreover, he believes that Alexander will be able to knock out the “Gypsy King”.
“I said it before, and I say it now – Usyk will win. He had an advantage in the first fight, Alexander found a way to defeat Tyson. My prediction for this fight? Usyk will simply finish him off, knock him out,” Zhilei said in a commentary for BoxNation.
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The Usyk-Fury rematch will take place on December 21 in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). All the titles held by the Ukrainian boxer will be at stake.
Unlike the first fight, this time the title of absolute world champion will not be at stake, since Alexander had previously renounced the IBF title. Now it is owned by Briton Daniel Dubois, who has already managed to defend it by knocking out his compatriot Anthony Joshua.
Recall that on the night of May 19, 2024, Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in a fight for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion. At the end of the ninth round, Alexander knocked his opponent down.
Thus, Alexander defended the WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF belts, and also took the WBC title from the “Gypsy King”. Usyk became the first absolute world champion in the heavyweight division in the 21st century.
Before that, the last “absolute” heavyweight champion was Lennox Lewis, who won this status in 1999, when he defeated Evander Holyfield. At that time, the WBA, WBC and IBF titles were at stake. The WBO belt was recognized as equal in 2007, so Usyk became the first “absolute” heavyweight champion in history with four main titles.