Toney’s Fury–Usyk Prediction Misses the Mark
In December 2024, James Toney backed Tyson Fury to knock out Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight rematch. The prediction did not come true: Usyk won by unanimous decision on Dec. 21, with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112.
Their first meeting, in May 2024, ended with Usyk winning by split decision. The rematch was also 12 rounds, but this time every judge scored it for Usyk.
Usyk retained his WBA (Super), WBO, and WBC heavyweight titles. Fury’s loss was his second in a row, both against Usyk.
What Toney expected Fury to change
Toney’s argument centered on focus. In the comments reported by Seconds Out on December 19, 2024, he suggested that Fury had underestimated Usyk in their first meeting and would approach the return more seriously. His forecast was a stoppage victory, rather than a narrow points win.
The prediction followed a first fight in which Usyk had forced a count during the ninth round before winning the split decision. Fury’s previous rematch successes against Deontay Wilder formed part of the wider discussion about whether he could make the necessary adjustments against another elite opponent.
The result against the prediction
The completed rematch supplied a clear test of that forecast. Fury did not secure the predicted knockout, and Usyk remained effective through twelve rounds. Matching 116–112 totals meant each judge gave Usyk an eight-round-to-four advantage on a conventional ten-point scoring basis.
Toney’s remarks remain a record of an experienced former champion’s pre-fight assessment. They explain what he expected Fury to improve, while the final decision shows that those expectations did not produce the outcome he anticipated. Keeping both parts of the story together preserves the original prediction and its subsequent resolution.
Sources
- Seconds Out: Toney’s prediction
- World Boxing Council: Usyk defeats Fury in rematch
- Reuters: Fight result and judges’ scores
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
