Boxing legend Mike Tyson has warned Tyson Fury that in order to regain his heavyweight title, he must take his upcoming fight with Oleksandr Usyk with the utmost seriousness.

In the highly anticipated rematch on December 21 in Saudi Arabia, the “Gypsy King” will face Usyk again after suffering his first professional defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian fighter in May. Usyk’s victory made him the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Last week, Fury admitted it was Usyk’s destined moment to win in an explosive title fight. In an impassioned speech at the rematch press conference, Fury stated: “It’s actually been about four and a half years – the Deontay Wilder II fight – since I was the underdog in a fight. I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight. Oleksandr won the first fight, fighting fair and square.

“It was very close last time. I’ll be a little more focused, I’m not complacent and I should get the job done. Nothing drastic has to change. A little more of the same, a little more focused and I will have won. Last time it wasn’t my time to win, otherwise God would have given me the victory. I’m very cheerful that Usyk made this decision. This is how it was supposed to be and we will find out what will happen next on December 21.

“I believe this time it’s my time and everything that happens – positive or negative – are lessons that we must learn from as people, boxers, fathers and husbands. All we know is go out there and knock each other out and put on a show for the paying customer, I hope you enjoy this fight as much as I do.

In anticipation of the rematch, Fury revealed his strategy to impress, and earlier this month he said he intended to change tactics to avoid leaving the outcome to the judges. With less than two months left until the rematch, luminaries from the boxing world have already started expressing their opinions on the fight.

In an interview with talkSPORT before the fight with Jake Paul, Tyson expressed surprise at the result of the match and revealed what the “Gypsy King” must do to ensure victory in December. “Hey, listen, Usyk surprised everyone,” he commented.

“I think Tyson Fury played too much. I think he needs to take this fight seriously and I hope we get a different result than last time.”

In an invigorating update on this year’s hotly anticipated sequel, there has been confirmation that Fury has brought rising heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma on board to prepare for the fight. At just 19 years senior, Itauma’s record remains unblemished and he is set to showcase his in-ring skills against Demsey McKean in the highly anticipated Usyk-Fury Undercard fight.

The heavyweight prodigy, who is expected to join as a sparring partner for two or three weeks at the start of Fury’s training camp, is ready to provide him with the experience he needs.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Itauma shared his perspective: “I have my own fight to think about. We have a similar style, me and Usyk, we have a similar style, so I feel like I will be very useful [Fury]. It just completes me. It completes me, but listen, I’m not going there just to support him. I want to judge my skills based on his skills. Of course I can’t wait [that]”

Paul, 27, raised eyebrows last month when he shared footage on social media of him knocking out a sparring partner with a right hook. He taunted the camera with a shout: “Don’t charge at me, Tyson.”

The clip left fans skeptical, as evidenced by comments like, “That guy didn’t move his head, that’s one of Mike’s best features,” and more blunt assessments like, “Substantial Mike will take his brother’s head off his shoulders.” Some viewers on social media even suggested the sparring partner was a “paid actor,” dismissing Paul’s chances with comments like: “Jake doesn’t hit anyone.”

Tyson, who cannot be outdone, released his own sparring video a few weeks ago in which he knocked out his partner with a powerful left hook. At the end of the session, his coach Rafael Cordeiro could be heard saying: “It was good for today.”

Furious Tyson replied: “Are you sure? Are you fucking sure?!” The boxing icon then exclaimed, “I’ve got a lot in me,” and sent a acute message to “The Problem Child,” declaring, “I’m just getting started.”

Both contenders eagerly enter the ring and definitively end the rivalry. They were previously scheduled to face each other earlier this year, but Tyson had to withdraw due to a recurrence of his peptic ulcer.

Although Paul has been actively sharing his training progress online, Tyson remains skeptical, especially when it comes to the video in which Paul appears to knock out his sparring partner. Discussing material with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Tyson noted: “Did you see his sparring session where the guy was pretending to get knocked out? It was lovely.”

At first, Usman and Cejudo were confused as to what Tyson meant until he explained: “He was a chubby guy. He fell. He dived”!

Despite concerns about his health ahead of next month’s upcoming fight, Tyson’s recent sparring footage has fans confident about his fitness. Paul countered the hype surrounding the heavyweight champion’s readiness by responding to viral sparring videos.

Jake Paul has commented on his upcoming fight, stating in an interview with: TODAY: “Tyson throws people into sparring sessions. His trainers say he is in the best shape and strongest he has ever been.

“I know that November 15 will be a war. But I plan on just sending him a message and showing the world what I’m capable of, coming alive in this moment and knocking out one of the best to ever do it.”

Paul faced criticism for taking the fight, but responded to the negative comments. “A lot of people wonder, ‘Jake, why are you doing this? Even if you beat him, they will say he is senior.” But for me, Mike Tyson wanted to fight me,” he said.

“It’s an honor. He is one of the most famed boxers in the world who has ever done this. Performing there with someone of his character is an honor and a dream come true. It’s going to be a show on Netflix.”