British boxer Tyson Fury is preparing for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Saudi Arabia, following a split-decision loss in May. Despite speculations about potential changes in his team, Fury has chosen to keep his main coaches. SugarHill Steward will remain his head coach, with Andy Lee as assistant and his father, John Fury, supporting him in the corner. This team is committed to devising an improved strategy that will allow Fury to redeem himself and become the first fighter to defeat Usyk.
During the first fight, questions arose about the clarity of instructions from Fury’s corner. Andy Lee admitted that “there were probably too many voices,” which may have caused some confusion. This time, Lee has emphasized that SugarHill Steward’s voice will be the primary one to prevent distractions.
In a recent interview with Boxing Scene, Lee stated: “‘Suga’ should have been the only voice, and he will be the only voice in the next fight.”
Lee also explained that, although Fury trusts his team, there has been deep reflection on what happened in May. One key factor, Lee mentioned, was a cut Fury sustained before the first fight, which prevented continuous training and limited his preparation.
“When you lose, you’re open to criticism, but it shows Tyson trusts his team – that he doesn’t want to change. A lot of guys would have looked for an excuse – blamed it on the team – but he’s not changing his team,” Lee said.
In the interview, Andy Lee explained that during the first fight, he was informed that Fury was two rounds down, prompting him to intervene. He acknowledges that in a close fight like that, effective communication and quick decisions are vital. For this rematch, his expectation is that the team will be better coordinated and that Fury will maintain optimal physical condition.
For Lee, a solid preparation this time around will be crucial, as he believes Fury can perform better with an uninterrupted camp. He explained that boxing requires a unique, specific fitness level, something Fury didn’t achieve in the previous fight due to his injury. This time, he is confident that Fury will be in better physical shape, positively impacting his performance.
“I want to see Tyson in training – in camp – sparring; going through the rounds; doing 10 rounds regularly in sparring,” said Lee.
Andy Lee also commented that, despite the toll of the years, Tyson Fury retains the necessary qualities to face the Ukrainian champion.
“He’s overcome so much that this isn’t even the biggest battle he’s ever faced. He’s probably had harder fights – bigger challenges in boxing, and he’s had much bigger challenges in life – so this will be nothing for him,” added Lee.
Andy Lee emphasized that in this rematch, Fury will need to improve in several aspects to counter Usyk’s style. He stressed that Fury must maintain focus and pressure throughout all rounds without taking breaks. “He needs to push Usyk back,” he added. Moreover, Lee is optimistic about Fury’s potential for improvement in this fight, while he believes that Usyk, though he could also improve, won’t do so as significantly.
The rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk promises to be one of the year’s most important boxing events, providing Fury the chance to redeem himself from his previous loss to Usyk. Fury’s story appears to be at a pivotal point where, as his team assures, he can take the next big step to solidify himself as the best heavyweight of the past decade.
Tyson Fury’s assistant trainer Andy Lee has said SugarHill Steward will be the only voice in the corner for the Oleksandr Usyk rematch: “There were a lot of voices in the corner – we were in a dire situation, and had to pull him out of it. I was told he was two rounds down so I…
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 28, 2024
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