Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are gearing up for a monumental heavyweight rematch to determine the undisputed champion of the division. In their first encounter, Usyk edged out ‘The Gypsy King’ with a split decision victory. This was Fury’s first loss of his professional boxing career which came as a surprise to many.

This time the stakes are higher than ever, as Oleksandr Usyk has confirmed that he will defend his three heavyweight titles in the upcoming fight. Former UFC champion Michael Bisping is also excited about the clash and has picked his favorite. However, he is not happy with some of the predictions made by Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren.

Michael Bisping gets honest with the predictions made for Usyk vs Fury fight

The much-awaited showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk was originally scheduled for February 17th. However, it got delayed after Fury, the former WBC champion, suffered an injury during a sparring session. According to Queensberry Promotions, Fury sustained a “freaky cut” above his eye that required prompt medical treatment. However, he is back to full fitness and is ready to avenge his previous loss against Usyk. It seems this time around Fury has a lot of supporters going into the clash.

Frank Warren who works as Fury’s promoter is very confident and during the press conference at Riyadh said, “I think Tyson Fury will come through this and I don’t think this fight will last the distance.” Echoing the same thoughts was Eddie Hearn who in the first fight backed the Ukrainian to win the fight. However, this time he has switched his stance and is rooting for the ‘Gypsy King’ to win the fight. ‘The Count’ isn’t quite impressed with the predictions and shared his opinion on the whole.

In one of his YouTube videos on his channel, he said, “Eddie Hearn backed Tyson Fury as well. He says regarding the main event I’ve got a lot of history with Usyk but I am backing Tyson Fury for sure. But he doesn’t want to turn his fan base against him he just wants to say to everyone yeah I’m backing the Ukrainian that wouldn’t be good for business.” The former UFC champion was quick to point out that all these predictions are not correct. He further added, “Okay they are all lying to you here. I don’t think they honestly believe that. They don’t know who’s going to win this fight.” 

While the predictions at the moment may not be justified, both fighters are putting in a lot of work before their fight. Fury, throughout his training camp, has spent time away from his family. One of the reasons is that he has had to endure the demanding media commitments that come with being in a main event. Bisping feels this is always a tough ask but feels it is just a part of every professional fighter’s life.

Michael Bisping reminds Tyson Fury of the hard-hitting reality before the fights

Tyson Fury appears to be frustrated, despite securing a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after his defeat in May. His frustration seems to stem from the personal sacrifices he’s making for this fight. As a proud father of seven, Tyson Fury has shown little interest in doing interviews. He is more focused on winning his upcoming fight and spending Christmas with his family. Michael Bisping recently discussed this sentiment in a video, expressing sympathy for the boxer. Bisping addressed the “necessary evil” of media days, acknowledging that while fighters may not enjoy them, they are an unavoidable part of the business.

For the rematch, the purse is reported to be around $191 million and the fighters need to sell the fight to pull in the crowds. As Bisping put it, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. He said, It’s a pain in the a** when I was fighting in the UFC you check in and when you’re the main event, they give you a long list of your media obligations. You’re like, ‘For crying out loud”, but it’s a necessary evil. You have to talk to the media, you gotta sell the fight to the public, you want people to watch it.” Just as Tyson Fury has faced many challenges in his life, his opponent, Oleksandr Usyk, has made his own sacrifices, including missing the birth of his daughter to focus on training.

These examples highlight the immense dedication both fighters have to their sport, willing to put family aside for their love of boxing. Who do you think will win between the two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.