Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk traded verbal jabs in a tense face-off interview ahead of their rematch.
Fury and Usyk are set to square off for a second time on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after an all-action inaugural encounter.
Fury is backing himself to knock out Usyk in their eagerly-awaited rematchCredit: DAZN Bozing
Usyk handed Fury the first defeat of his professional career in May via split decision in a fight that saw the Ukrainian score a standing eight-count on his adversary in round nine.
‘The Cat’ landed a huge left-hand flush on Fury’s jaw that caught the Brit on unsteady legs.
As Fury staggered around the ring, Usyk followed up with a flurry of shots and sunk the Mancunian into the ropes, forcing the referee to administer a count.
Recalling that pivotal moment during a sit-down interview together with their promoters Alexander Krassyuk and Frank Warren for DAZN, the heavyweight titans went back and forth.
“He could have punched me with that shot a million times and it might not have had an effect but he punched me with it and it had an effect and that was great for him,” said Fury of the first blow, which he described as a ‘punch from the Gods’.
Usyk then timed in: “It was perfect, Tyson was good at escaping.”
Taking exception to Usyk’s comments, a visibly wound-up Fury, replied: “You had your little chance to knock me out and you couldn’t do it b***** could you?
“Hit me with ten shots in a row and couldn’t do it.”
Usyk responded: “You too had the chance.”
Fury then fired back: “You couldn’t even put me down after being on Bambi legs.
Fury and Usyk did not disappoint in their latest face-off interviewCredit: YouTube – DAZN Boxing
Usyk beat Fury to become undisputed heavyweight king in MayCredit: Getty
“You hit me with ten shots, ten clean shots on the chin. No canvas touch.
“You’re f**** in the rematch. Like Tupac said, ‘You hit me with your best shots and couldn’t do f*** all.’
“You know what is coming for you, I’m going to f*** you up b****.”
Asked what his gameplan is for the next fight by Usyk’s promoter Krassyuk, Fury replied: “The Same.
“I don’t have to do anything more because it was close.
“So if I don’t get a 10-8 round in round nine then I maybe win the fight, no?
The pair will now rematch on December 21Credit: Ian Walton/Matchroom
“So maybe if I keep a little bit more focused and do the same then again pop, pop, pop, pop.
“I’m not going to change anything because it wasn’t a one-sided beatdown because it was a close fight, it could have gone either way. I’m not complaining. I want to box like it did before.”
The interview was taped after their launch press conference in October.
Since then, Fury has vowed to enter into ‘destroyer mode’ and knockout Usyk.
Only time will tell which approach he chooses.