Tyson Fury was always going to be bigger, but this was much heavier.
Fury will hold a massive 55lbs weight advantage over Oleksandr Usyk in this Saturday night’s world heavyweight title rematch.
Rightly or wrongly, he will be trying to impose his gigantic 6ft 9in frame on the man who beat him here in a May epic.
He knew he would need to do something different to turn the tables and the change became manifest on the scales.
Admittedly, both were wrapped up on a cold desert night. But after the previous night’s record 11 minute 20 second stare down, they glanced at each other across the stage on this occasion for a matter of seconds.
Fury is 19lbs heavier than he was for the first fight. The rematch of the colossal undisputed heavyweight title clash from May is now just a day away and the pair took to the scales on Friday night.
Tyson Fury appeared to weigh in 19lbs heavier than the first fight for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk came in at 226lbs in comparison to the May fight when he weighed in at 223lbs
Both fighters wore heavy clothes, meaning their weights were somewhat exaggerated
Ahead of their first fight, Fury embarked on a dramatic transformation as he hired a nutritionist to help him slim down. Here he was much heavier – but wore a number of jackets and heavy clothes as he stepped onto the scales.
In the first bout, Usyk would ultimately get his hand raised to become the first undisputed heavyweight king of the 21st century, and it appears Fury will once again look for a different approach when the pair face off once more on Saturday.
The Gypsy King weighed in at 281lbs, though his actual weight is expected to be more in the region of 270lbs.
Meanwhile, Usyk came in at 226lbs in comparison to the May fight when he weighed in at 223lbs.
On the eve of the weigh-in Fury and Usyk engaged in a intense staredown with the head-to-head lasting over ten minutes. On Friday, however, it lasted just a matter of seconds.
Asked what he was feeling on Saturday, Usyk said: ‘Nothing. My angel helps me, my God helps me, my wife helps me.’
Fury, meanwhile, did not speak to the media, making a swift exit.
On Thursday, the warring rivals were eventually pulled apart as they prepare to step in the ring in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Fury was in and out quickly in Ruyadh, not speaking to the media after his outburst on Thursday at the final press conference
Usyk told the media as he left: ‘My angel helps me, my God helps me, my wife helps me.’
But after Michael Buffer took to the stage, Fury was first out, wearing black and white as he strolled to the stage, punching the air.
Usyk donned a sign reading ‘Free Azovstal defenders’ as he started his walk.
They the weighed in and faced off for around three seconds before making their exits.
Fury was uncharacteristically concise in his remarks on Thursday as he promised he was solely focused on the task at hand.
‘I’ve got nothing to say, apart from there’s going to be a whole lot of hurt and pain in this fight you watch.’ Fury insisted.
‘That’s all I got to say. Talking’s been done. You know, the first fight I talked, I joked, through all my career.
‘This time I’m serious. I’m going to do some f***ing damage here on Saturday night. Watch me go to work on this f*****.’
After the face-off, he let loose with a verbal assault on his heavyweight rival.
It is customary in men’s boxing to say may the best man win. Britain will be hoping the biggest man wins.
HOW TO WATCH: Register and watch Usyk vs. Fury 2 on DAZN here
