Lennox Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion before Oleksandr Usyk, has voiced concerns about Tyson Fury’s focus ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Usyk. A lucrative potential showdown with Anthony Joshua looms large, and Lewis believes this mega-money fight could be a significant distraction for Fury, who needs to be completely concentrated on avenging his previous loss to the Ukrainian. The staggering financial rewards associated with a Fury-Joshua clash, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of pounds, are undeniably tempting, especially considering the fight would likely be a two-leg affair, hosted in both Saudi Arabia and London. This potential windfall could easily divert Fury’s attention from the immediate task at hand, which is reclaiming his position at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. Lewis emphasizes the importance of Fury prioritizing the undisputed championship over any other considerations, particularly given he is currently trailing Usyk 1-0 in their head-to-head record.
The allure of the Joshua fight is undeniable. It represents not only a massive payday but also a chance to solidify his legacy within British boxing history. However, with Joshua currently sidelined after a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, the Saudi Arabian backers of this potential super-fight have opted to postpone it, allowing Joshua time to recover. This delay ironically intensifies the distraction for Fury, as the prospect of the Joshua clash continues to hover over his preparations for the Usyk rematch. Lewis, drawing from his own experience of bouncing back from defeats, stresses that Fury’s sole focus should be on correcting the mistakes of the first fight and securing a victory against Usyk. Only after achieving this goal should Fury entertain thoughts of other opponents, especially given the magnitude of the Usyk rematch and the importance of regaining his championship status.
Lewis firmly believes that a Fury victory on Saturday should lead directly to a trilogy fight with Usyk to definitively settle the score. Anything less, including prioritizing a fight with Joshua, would be a disappointment and potentially leave a lingering question mark over Fury’s legacy. The former undisputed champion emphasizes the necessity of a third fight to determine the true victor of this rivalry, even if one of the belts is currently missing. Public opinion, he argues, will still consider the winner of the rematch the undisputed champion. This reinforces the importance of Fury maintaining a laser focus on the task at hand and not allowing the allure of other fights to cloud his judgment or preparation.
To achieve victory, Fury needs to address the tactical errors he made in the first encounter with Usyk. Lewis points to Fury’s showboating and lack of seriousness in the early rounds, which allowed Usyk to build an early lead. He also notes the impact of Usyk’s well-placed left hand, which visibly affected Fury’s breathing and performance in later rounds. Fury’s tendency to coast through certain rounds and not consistently apply pressure cost him dearly in the first fight. Lewis emphasizes the importance of winning each round individually through consistent hard work and effective tactics, rather than relying on sporadic bursts of activity. He advocates for Fury to utilize his full arsenal of skills, including his movement, jab, and elusiveness, to outbox Usyk and secure the victory.
Reflecting on his own experiences with losses, Lewis highlights the importance of analyzing mistakes and making the necessary adjustments. He recalls meticulously reviewing his first fight with Evander Holyfield, identifying the differences in their approaches, and strategizing for the rematch. This dedication to self-improvement is what ultimately allowed him to avenge his losses and solidify his legacy. Lewis believes Fury must adopt a similar mindset, meticulously studying the first Usyk fight to understand where he went wrong and implement the necessary changes. This requires a level of self-awareness and humility, admitting the shortcomings of the previous performance and dedicating oneself to correcting them.
If Lewis were in Fury’s corner, his final instructions would be simple and direct: “Use your skill, use your gifts, and don’t fool around. Be so serious that you just seek and destroy. Winning is all that you need to do, winning is what you must do.” This advice encapsulates the essential message that Fury needs to internalize. He must abandon the showmanship and embrace a ruthless, focused approach to secure the victory. For Usyk, the instructions would be equally concise: “Stay on his ass and cut off the ring. Use that catchphrase he likes to say: ‘Tyson, I will not leave you alone.'” This highlights the importance of Usyk maintaining relentless pressure, denying Fury space to operate, and neutralizing his advantages in reach and size. The outcome of this highly anticipated rematch hinges on which fighter can most effectively implement their game plan and capitalize on their opponent’s weaknesses.
