Tyson Fury's former opponent predicts Oleksandr Usyk rematch result

Tyson Fury has been tipped to regain his world title belts when he faces off against Oleksandr Usyk later this year in a rematch of their undisputed bout. Usyk beat the 'Gypsy King' by majority decision in Saudi Arabia last month, and the two will collide again in December.

Fury started the bout well, and appeared to be using his superior size to his advantage and pick off Usyk seemingly at will. The then-undefeated bruiser lost the first two rounds on two of the three judges scorecards, but then seemed to regain his composure and won the mid-rounds, appearing to be in control of the bout.

In the ninth round, however, everything flipped. Usyk landed a flush straight left hand on Fury's chin, sending him wobbling backwards towards the ropes. Somehow he stayed on his feet, but not before Usyk peppered him with clean punches on the ropes.

Luckily for Fury, the bell came soon after, saving him and allowing him to recover for a minute before finishing the fight at distance. Usyk won the bout on two judges scorecards and took Fury's WBC and Ring Magazine titles, ending the Brit's undefeated record.

But Fury will now have the chance to regain those belts later in the year, having triggered the automatic rematch clause in the original fight contract. The bout, scheduled for December 21 in Saudi Arabia, will see Fury have the chance to win back the belts, and his former opponent Otto Wallin believes he'll do just that.

The Swede, speaking to Seconds Out, explained why he believes Fury will be smarter this time around and will slow Usyk down by attacking the body more.

“It’s tough to say. I think that Fury looked really good in that fight, he looked his best, and the same with Usyk so it will be interesting. I think both guys will learn from it and probably get better. If Fury didn’t get hurt like that I think he would have won the fight but he did get hurt and Usyk did it and he deserved it so there’s not much you can say about it.

"[The rematch will be] maybe more of the same, Fury targeting the body of Usyk more, that was working for him. It will be really interesting to see the rematch. This fight was close, Usyk won by one point, so the fight could go either way.” When pressed on a winner, Wallin said: "You know what, I want to say Fury again.”