Boxing analyst Johnny Nelson doesn’t think Tyson Fury will rematch Oleksandr Usyk. Nelson believes 35-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) will never fight Usyk again after losing to him last month on May 18.
Downward spiral
Johnny feels that Fury was trying to understand what happened to him after this loss. He is currently on a downward spiral, just as he was after his fight with Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
This time it’s different. Fury is aged, his skills are diminishing, and his youth is long gone. Unlike then, this time the Gypsy King will no longer be able to rebound.
There is no youngster to come back and the heavyweight division has too many talented fighters. Fury cannot rely on limp legs, not the world-class Deontay Wilder, who will look like 24-carat gold in order to deceive the public.
Nelson believes Fury hasn’t been in his best shape since his first fight against Deontay Wilder in 2018 because that was the last time he showed the physical skills that made him a good heavyweight.
Wilder knocked out Fury in the twelfth round of that fight, after which the referee strangely counted out the unconscious Tyson. Fury’s knockout brought something out of him,
Since that fight, Fury has turned into a mauler who is completely dependent on grabbing and ducking. Fury’s career has been aided by tender drafting in recent years as he fights against Wilder, Dereck Chisora, Dillian Whyte and Francis Ngannou.
When Fury was finally put in a fight with a good fighter, Usyk, he lost and was exposed for the flabby mess that he is. There is talk of a rematch between Fury and Usyk on December 21, but if it happens, most believe it will not end well for Tyson.
A shadow of his former self
“I think for Tyson Fury the awareness of what happened to him will come slowly but surely. I don’t believe Tyson Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk next time or again,” said Johnny Nelson Second exit about his belief that Fury will not rematch undisputed heavyweight champion Usyk on December 21.
Nelson believes that the rumors about a Fury-Usyk rematch are just scorching air and it will not happen. Fury is so luxurious he doesn’t need it and is starting to realize he doesn’t have it.
Given the enormous Getty-style fortune Fury is sitting on, he has no incentive to operate it in the way he would have to hope to regain his position. I don’t blame Fury.
When you have so much cash, who needs to be so tired of getting up in the morning, denying yourself luxurious, caloric foods and torturing yourself at the gym?
“He [Fury] Either he’s packing or Usyk is retiring or going downhill [to cruiserweight]– Nelson said. “I don’t think he will be involved with Usyk again. I think he will retire because of the way it failed and he will have to deal with it.
Yes, Nelson is right. Fury looked against Usyk and Francis Nganoue. It’s gone and never was. He would have lost to the then 39-year-old Vladimir if the Ukrainian talent had been younger and given up.
Wladimir gave up this fight without throwing any punches, which had a lot to do with his advanced age.
“That’s exactly what it is,” Nelson said, reacting when told Fury was starting a downward spiral, much like he did after the 2015 fight with Wladimir Klitschko. “I try to say it without saying it, but for me: that’s exactly what it is.”
Fury’s downfall isn’t just mental. It’s physical too. He has grown aged and cannot move like the adolescent spirit he was ten years ago. Even if Fury was mentally and physically motivated, he would still be an older fighter in his 30s and would have just as much trouble against Usyk in the rematch as he would if he was dogged.
“When you’ve had so much financial success and made it to the top, unless you really love it and are prepared to go through it demanding and get back there again, why would you listen to someone you think is a lesser person than you? tell you what to do?” Nelson said.
“His first fight was against Deontay Wilder [on December 1, 2018] was his last outstanding performance. Tyson Fury may be training well, but I feel the last time we saw him at his best was his first fight against Wilder.
Fury’s performance against Wilder in their first fight in 2018 was far from stellar. In this fight he just moved, took faint shots, feinted and clowned. Even as flawed as Wilder was, he still dropped Fury twice, knocking him unconscious in the twelfth round. Fury thought it was great, but not for a good heavyweight.
If Fury had fought Anthony Joshua or even cruiserweight Usyk back then, he would have lost because he was completely beatable.
“Yes, no,” Nelson replied when asked if he believed Fury would win the rematch with Usyk. “He may not have lost his legs, but he’s not the fighter he used to be. His last fight and the fight before it [Francis Ngannou] he told us this. Maybe it’s time,” Nelson said of Fury’s need to retire.
In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).
The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00
“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”
Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.
“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.
Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
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