Lennox Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion, has voiced his critique of Tyson Fury’s performance in his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, suggesting that Fury should have adopted a more aggressive approach. Lewis believes Fury’s size and power advantage should have been leveraged more effectively, putting constant pressure on Usyk and utilizing his physicality to wear down the smaller, but technically superior, Ukrainian. While acknowledging Usyk’s impressive boxing skills and ring generalship, Lewis felt Fury was too passive, allowing Usyk to dictate the pace and control the fight, ultimately leading to a unanimous decision victory for Usyk. Lewis posits that a more assertive and relentless Fury, reminiscent of his dominant performances against Deontay Wilder, could have drastically altered the outcome of the fight. This passive approach, Lewis suggests, might have stemmed from an overreliance on his previous knockout victories against Wilder, leading to an expectation that a similar result would materialize against Usyk without the necessary aggressive pursuit.
Lewis further emphasizes the importance of adapting fight strategies to suit the opponent. He argues that Fury’s tactics, effective against the power-punching Wilder, were ill-suited for Usyk’s elusive style and superior technical boxing. Usyk’s constant movement, combined with his accurate jab and combinations, neutralized Fury’s reach advantage, preventing him from effectively landing power shots. Lewis believes Fury should have utilized his size and strength to bully Usyk, working on the inside and applying relentless pressure to tire him out. Instead, Fury often remained at a distance, respecting Usyk’s counterpunching abilities, which played right into the Ukrainian’s game plan. This cautious approach, in Lewis’s view, allowed Usyk to comfortably box his way to victory, picking off Fury with well-timed punches and scoring consistently throughout the fight.
Looking ahead, Lennox Lewis strongly advocates for a clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, a fight that has been long anticipated by boxing fans worldwide. Despite Fury’s recent setback against Usyk, Lewis believes this fight retains its significant appeal and would still be a massive event, generating immense interest and potentially providing a pathway for the winner to challenge for the unified heavyweight titles once again. Lewis argues that this all-British showdown is crucial for both fighters’ legacies, providing an opportunity for Fury to bounce back from his loss and reassert himself as a top contender and giving Joshua a chance to secure a career-defining victory against a formidable opponent.
Lewis highlights the historical significance of a Fury-Joshua fight, drawing parallels to other iconic all-British boxing clashes. He believes the fight would capture the imagination of the public and ignite a renewed sense of national pride in the heavyweight division. Furthermore, Lewis emphasizes the financial benefits for both fighters, pointing to the substantial revenue generated by such a high-profile event. He suggests that the fight could potentially take place in a prominent venue like Wembley Stadium, further amplifying its grandeur and drawing a massive global audience. This fight, according to Lewis, is a must-see for any boxing enthusiast and a significant event in the history of the heavyweight division.
The rematch between Usyk and Fury, titled “Usyk v Fury 2: Reignited,” was available on TNT Sports Box Office for a price of £24.99 in the UK. Viewers could access the fight through various platforms, including discovery+, EE TV, Virgin Media TV, and Prime Video, offering a wide range of options for fans to witness the heavyweight clash. Importantly, the purchase of this specific event did not require a pre-existing subscription to TNT Sports, making it accessible to a broader audience. This pay-per-view model allows fans to purchase and watch individual events without committing to a long-term subscription, providing flexibility and affordability for those interested solely in specific fights like the Usyk-Fury rematch.
The accessibility of the fight across multiple platforms, coupled with the lack of a mandatory subscription requirement, aimed to maximize viewership for this highly anticipated rematch. This strategy underscores the importance of reaching a diverse audience in the modern media landscape, leveraging various streaming services and traditional television providers to ensure maximum exposure for the event. The availability on platforms like Prime Video further broadened the fight’s reach, tapping into a global audience of streaming subscribers. This multi-platform approach reflects the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, catering to the changing consumption habits of viewers and maximizing revenue potential for major sporting events like the Usyk-Fury rematch.
