Tyson Fury’s undefeated streak came to an end on Saturday after the Gypsy King lost via split decision to Oleksandr Usyk but he could get revenge if a rematch clause is activated
Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk won’t happen because the Gypsy King will be considering retirement, according to former British boxer Johnny Nelson.
Fury’s legacy was shaken to its core following his split decision defeat to Usyk on Saturday – the first of his career. The Manchester-born fighter wasn’t at his best despite landing more blows in the early rounds and was nearly knocked down in the ninth before being saved by the bell.
The win saw Usyk, 37, crowned undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and left fans clamouring for a rematch. But Nelson reckons they won’t get one, having tipped Fury, 35, to struggle to come to terms with the defeat.
“I know there’s a rematch clause. I don’t really think that will happen,” the 57-year-old told Seconds Out. “I know a fighter’s psyche, and the things Fury said before and after [about Usyk], no matter if he said it just for headlines or whatever, it’s hard to swallow.
“Remember, [Usyk] is ‘a gap-toothed, jumped up middleweight’. All the insults, everything he threw at this man, he’s a walking contradiction. So how will Tyson get his head round it? Especially when he looks at his performance. Will he get his head right? I don’t think he will.
“I think this will make Tyson seriously consider walking away from this game. He’s a wealthy man, and he’s a fighting man who believes hand on heart that he’s the best in the world. Now this has happened it’ll be hard for him to digest it, to accept it… I think he’ll struggle.”
Fury claimed after the fight that he thought he’d done enough to win and appeared to suggest the ongoing war in Usyk’s homeland, Ukraine, had an impact on the judges’ scorecards. But Nelson reckons the Gypsy King was just trying to save face.
“I think Usyk was consistent, consistent in the build-up and consistent all the way through the fight,” he continued. “Tyson… he said he thought he won. I don’t really think he believes that.”
Nelson added: “I understand showboating, I get it. But you do that when you know you’ve got someone’s number. Tyson didn’t. He was showboating to the crowd and doing everything possible to get into Usyk’s head to say I’m better than you.
“I think Tyson will look back at his showboating and think, ‘Bloody hell. Do you know what, I should have just stuck to the task at hand’.”
Despite Nelson’s claims, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren insists a rematch will take place on October 12th or 13th later this year. Speaking on TalkSPORT, Warren said: “He’s (Fury) back here, he’s recuperating and his mood is that he wants the rematch and that’s already signed for so it will happen.”
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