Exclusive: Fury's Refusal to Play 'Mind Games' Could Prove Masterstroke Against Usyk

Tyson Fury’s refusal to try and play mind games ahead of his re-match with Oleksandr Usyk could prove a masterstroke, one of Britain’s best loved former world champions has insisted.

Ten months after suffering the first defeat of his professional career when the pair met at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, the self-proclaimed Gypsy King has cut a much more phlegmatic figure than usual ahead of their return at the same venue this weekend.

Although some observers have interpreted that as a sign of weakness, Anthony Crolla has insisted it could actually bode well for Fury as he prepares to face the Ukrainian once again.

Using his experience of operating at the pinnacle of the fight game, having won the WBA lightweight title in 2015, Crolla told SportsBoom.com: “Personally, I really like that fact Tyson seems a lot quieter this time around. I believe it means we’re going to see a lot more focused and switched on Fury in there."

“Up until their first meeting, Tyson knew there was no one better at all the build stuff than him. In the past, you’ve seen him beat someone even before they’ve even stepped inside the ring with him."

“The only person it’s never had any effect on whatsoever is Usyk. You saw that when they first met."

"In fact, I don’t think any of the stuff Tyson was doing or saying even registered with Usyk. Quite the opposite, I actually reckon he got inside Tyson’s head a bit - purely because he could see it wasn’t bothering Usyk whatsoever."

“Now, he (Fury) knows he has just got to concentrate on the fight itself. And that could work to his advantage.”

“Tyson has been much less volatile,” Crolla continued. “I like the fact that there’s been no rows between them on social media, and that he’s not been getting dragged into all of that."

“Yes, it can be useful at times. It wasn’t something I ever really went in for but I understand the point of it."

“It can also be a bit of a distraction, though. Now, Tyson should just be concentrating on what he has to do and being in a position to execute the game plan.”

Fury actually prevailed on one of the three judges’ scorecards following February’s clash with Usyk. But with his two colleagues disagreeing, Usyk was able to add the WBC crown to his WBA, IBO and IBF belts and remain unbeaten in the process. 

Neither man has fought since but politics subsequently forced Usyk to relinquish the IBF strap, which is now held by Daniel Dubois after his victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley earlier this year.

REVENGE MISSION

Crolla, who will be at ringside in the Middle East when Fury attempts to avenge his only loss in the paid ranks, is now a respected analyst and trainer - working with the likes of Rhiannon Dixon and his younger brother Will - after retiring with a record of 35-7-3 in 2019. 

Jorge Linares, Ricky Burns, the late Willie Limond and Vasiliy Lomanchenko, Usyk’s compatriot, were among his most notable opponents.

Advising Fury and his camp to continue with their low key approach during fight-week, Crolla said: “They will have picked up a lot of valuable information from the last fight. They know what they have to do and they know what is not going to bother Usyk.

“Has Tyson still got the legs? That’s the only thing that’s bugging me a little bit about him and I guess we’re going to find out shortly."

“But I do like the way he seems totally switched on this time around. I actually thought, although he’d disagree with me, he didn’t seem totally concentrated before his first meeting with Usyk."

"There were times, before he got hurt, when there might have been a little bit too much showboating instead of just concentrating on the job in front of him. Usyk, because he’s so mentally strong, will have been happy with that."

“Now, it looks like he’s in a different head space and I think that can only be good for him. I think we’ll see a better version of Tyson now.”