The most anticipated rematch of the year is fast approaching: Usyk vs Fury. The match of matches, not only because it’s the heavyweight division—the crown jewel of boxing—but also because their first bout was so balanced that only a precise punch could determine the outcome.
The fight unfolded round by round with uncertainty about who would emerge as the better fighter. Usyk won, leaving his opponent with a certain unease, and many others in the boxing world, along with millions of viewers, with lingering doubts about who was truly superior.
It’s only fair to organize a rematch, in which we expect fireworks from both sides. Naturally, Tyson Fury will be much more prepared, knowing full well that his boxing style requires maximum concentration. He cannot afford to give his rival any room or relax mentally, as Usyk is a fighter who always battles fiercely, is highly intelligent, technically complete, but physically smaller and lighter than Fury.
I believe Fury will rely much more on his straight left, avoiding leaning on the ropes as he did in the past. As in his other rematches (particularly against Wilder), he won’t wait for the match to play out round by round but will instead apply more pressure on his opponent, throwing more frequent combinations without pauses.
On the other hand, Usyk has the confidence of being the champion but knows full well that in this match, he’ll have to do much more to prove to the world that he is the true king of the heavyweights. It won’t be easy for either of them, as they’ve already faced each other in the previous bout. Both will have worked on improving their mistakes while training at their peak to exploit every error of their opponent and capitalize on their so-called “missing parts.”
Preparing for a rematch against an opponent who defeated you is no simple task. I speak from personal experience, as I’ve had a few rematches in my modest career, even when I lost the first fight with a clear result.
The first example I can offer is the rematch against multiple world champion Omar Andres Narvaez. The second is the rematch against Spanish fighter Ivan Pozo. The first was for the WBO world title, and the second for the European Title.
To face a rematch against someone who has beaten you, you need the willpower to accept the defeat, admit your mistakes, and work to improve and perfect yourself, possibly even changing your boxing style.
I’ve always sought perfection in my boxing, often changing my approach, adapting to my opponent’s style, but also understanding how much time I needed to prepare and avoid any missteps. This preparation had to be exclusively focused on the person you already know as a boxer because they’ve exposed your “missing parts.”
For Narvaez, I underwent a 75-day training camp without stopping, sparring with boxers who mimicked his style and repeatedly practicing moves that could catch him off guard, aiming to create anxiety and uncertainty to overturn the match’s outcome round by round.
Against Ivan Pozo, I prepared for three and a half months away from home, focusing almost exclusively on building physical and mental strength. I worked hard to eliminate any distractions, knowing that even the smallest mistake could lead to a knockout.
With the help of specific sessions with a mental coach, I developed a mental toughness that allowed me to believe that any punch I took, no matter how hard, wouldn’t hurt. I trained myself to respond explosively, doubling up on his punches. For example, if I took one or two punches, I had to counter with a four-punch combination, maintaining the same power, speed, and precision.
To achieve perfection, I designed a physical training regimen that targeted every part of my body, from running to improve endurance and stamina to physical and muscular stress through various exercises, focusing on speed and explosiveness. But the truly fundamental element was visualizing the “film of the match” I had to fight, both during athletic training and sparring sessions with various partners.
While I was in the locker room waiting to be called to the ring, I told my coach, Franco Cherchi, a now-famous phrase: “You’ll see, in this match, I’ll go down, but I’ll get back up immediately. That’s when my match will start: you’ll see, I’ll win and probably knock him out!” Well, that’s exactly what happened…