Fury vs Usyk 2 Odds: Oleksandr the great favourite ahead of rematch

WBC, WBA, WBO and The Ring heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk defends his titles against Tyson Fury on December 21. The epic rematch will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight is expected to be broadcast on both DAZN PPV and TNT Sports Box Office, as was the case with their first meeting.

Here is an early preview and first look at the odds ahead of this gargantuan heavyweight attraction.

For all intents and purposes, this fight is for the one true heavyweight championship. After all, their first bout back in May saw the crowning of the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis. 

Only the idiocy of the IBF, who stripped Usyk of their belt to hand it to Daniel Dubois ahead of his bout with Anthony Joshua, prevents this fight from carrying the undisputed tag. But everyone knows Usyk is the only genuine heavyweight champion. They saw him become the division’s leader in the first fight.

What a first fight it was. Given the years of hype and false starts, the fight itself could have easily been a letdown. But Usyk and Fury thrilled us with one of the best big fights in recent memory. While both men are technically adept, neither was shy about letting their hands go in an absorbing contest.

Fury outscored Usyk in the early rounds, judging the range well and looking sharper than he had in recent contests. After back-to-back gimmes over Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora and that bizarre night against Francis Ngannou, it was fun to see ‘The Gypsy King’ reach deeper into his boxing textbook against an elite opponent.

But ‘The Cat’ battled back, reaching a ninth-round crescendo as he beat the then-WBC champion around the ring. Fury was hurt and many argued that another referee might have pulled him out. But the Mancunian was allowed to fight on, albeit to no avail. Fury heard the final bell, but Usyk had done more than enough to take his title and the vaunted undisputed crown.

The rematch was inevitable, unless Fury launched one of his annual retirements. But ‘The Gypsy King’ seems pleasingly focused on getting his top spot back. While still a constant presence on newsfeeds worldwide, the 36-year-old seems a bit more measured than usual. Fury has kept his weight sensible and has put a hold on the outlandish social media activity for now.

The Brit will need this level of devotion if he is to have a hope of vengeance. Usyk is quite possibly the best fighter of this era. In heavyweight terms, he is the most dominant we have seen since his countryman Wladimir Klitschko ruled the roost. But with two wins over Anthony Joshua as well as his victory over Fury, ‘The Cat’ has surpassed ‘Dr Steelhammer’ in terms of quality opposition.

At the age of 37, Usyk is unlikely to put together an 18-defence title reign like Klitschko. Especially given the fact this rematch will be just his fourth heavyweight championship defence. But with a repeat triumph over Fury, Usyk will solidify himself among the heavyweight greats. When you throw in his undisputed championship down at cruiserweight, where he made six title defences, it becomes clear that Usyk is one of the defining fighters of his generation.

Fury has been that too, of course. Losing to a fighter as incredible as Usyk does not blunt the former champion’s achievements. Fury has overcome mental health struggles and substance issues to reign as a two-time heavyweight king. He has held all four major world titles and ended that aforementioned Klitschko era of dominance. Fury’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder is arguably the greatest ever staged at heavyweight. 

But that is the past and this is the future. So let us look ahead to December’s Christmas caper, as Riyadh prepares to host the biggest rematch in boxing. 

Usyk vs Fury II Fight Odds

Usyk opens as a 4/7 favourite, a reflection of his fine performance and victory in their first collision. Fury is 6/4, a fair punt given his ability and pedigree. A draw is priced up at 12/1.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.