Fury against Usyk II: Hearn predicts victory on points for Tyson (but is he partial?)

Eddie Hearn will pick Tyson Fury to defeat Oleksandr Usyk on points in a DAZN PPV rematch in Riyadh on Saturday night. Matchroom promoter Hearn is quite explicit about why he chose English-born Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs), saying it’s because he’s “British” and because of “what could happen” which is code for the mega-fight against Anthony Joshua.

Money talks

THE boxing establishment he wants Fury, 36, to win this fight because having him as the unified heavyweight champion is good for business. Fury represents money. So it’s no surprise that there is some despair so that he was victorious against Usyk.

Lets you know what Usyk faces on Saturday night. He is in the same position as Fury’s previous opponents, who looked to beat him but had their victories snatched away. Tyson should probably have four losses on his resume, not one. It’s hard to beat a fighter when he’s as popular as Fury.

You have to give Hearn credit for being transparent about his biases, even though he is selfish. There’s a lot of money Joshua’s fight, promoted by Matchrooom, would make Fury fight if he wins against WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight champion Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday night.

Honesty or self-interest?

“I think people are forgetting how close the fight was. It’s hard not to pick Oleksandr Usyk for this fight, but I had two rounds tops for Oleksandr Usyk. Obviously, it was strange for the standing room count,” Eddie Hearn told Matchroom Boxing, speaking about the first fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year on May 18.

“I expect another really close match on Saturday. I choose Tyson Fury for many reasons. I’m channeling my inner karma towards him, obviously because of what might happen [Anthony Joshua mega-fight]and the fact that we are British too.

If Hearn had nothing to gain from Fury’s win on Saturday, it would be interesting to know whether he would still consider it a winner. My guess is no. Even with his massive 40-pound advantage, Fury isn’t on the same level as Usyk talent-wise, and he doesn’t physically look like the same fighter going into the rematch as he was seven months ago when he lost a 12-point decision. round division.

“I have a sneaky feeling. I saw that stuff yesterday and thought it was him [Fury] he seemed really relaxed. Usyk is talking really arrogantly, really different this time. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I’m going to Tyson Fury and I’m going to Tyson Fury on points,” Hearn said.