10 top pundits give Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 predictions as winner verdict delivered

Tyson Fury has the chance to gain revenge on Oleksandr Usyk in a blockbuster world heavyweight championship rematch on Saturday.

Back in May, Usyk defeated Fury in a split-decision to become the first undisputed world champion in 24 years. In the process, the Ukrainian inflicted the first loss on the Briton's professional boxing career. However, Usyk soon vacated the IBF belt, meaning the unified titles are on the line against Fury.

Although Fury was beaten seven months ago, the Wythenshawe-born fighter still believes he won after edging the early rounds before Usyk rallied in the second half of the fight, forcing a standing count from the referee in the ninth round. This time around, however, Fury will be hoping for a different outcome.

Here, Manchester Evening News takes a look at what experts and pundits have been saying ahead of the fight. Some are predicting a tight encounter and a Fury win, while others feel that Usyk will come out on top...

Anthony Joshua said, via The Mirror: "I think it's going to be a tough fight early on and then I feel like Usyk will edge it again. He's a class operator and I feel like Usyk's one of the best out there. That’s why I think he'll win."

British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley told BBC Sport: "As a boxer and as a person, Fury is capable of making the adjustments to beat Usyk but do I think he will actually be able to and whether the ambition is still there? Without being offensive, it may be lacking a little. With Usyk, he is so stoic and stalwart and 100% focused on getting the job done. I think it will be a hard task to rip the belts away from him."

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis told BBC Sport: "Tyson Fury wins this because he is the bigger man. He will use his jab and needs to throw more punches than the first fight. He can't muck around and needs to be totally serious. I always say the bigger man always wins if they have the same skills."

Heavyweight Lawrence Okolie told BBC Sport: "I will back Fury, which sounds insane because we've seen Usyk do it countless times and has even beat Fury already. It was such a close fight and Fury still has another style to try. He has an opportunity to not try and outbox the boxer as he did and try to be more aggressive.

"He can be a big strong guy and back it up with boxing skill. At times when he was stepping off, maybe he'll now step forward. Maybe it makes it more ugly, messy and gritty. What I will say is that one of them will win more convincingly than last time and that could also be Usyk if he stays consistent like his last fight. If he's in even better shape than Fury, he could win by a bigger margin than last time."

Former world champion Sunny Edwards told BBC Sport: "The first fight was competitive but I think Usyk won conclusively enough. At any time it is very hard to pick against Usyk, even if you are as big and as good as Fury.

"Usyk gets in the ring and is on a different rhythm, he's on a different engine. Usyk just seems to have this momentum and he's always making his opponent work a lot harder. I have to go with Usyk but you can't write Fury off. When you write Fury off that's when he does something he isn't supposed to."

Light-welterweight Jack Catterall told BBC Sport: "We’ve seen a lot of good early rounds from Fury, so it’ll be interesting to see if he has made adjustments and whether they can be enough against Usyk, who can adapt to anything. As a British fighter I want Fury to win, but my head says it won’t be enough against a fighter like Usyk."

Middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. told talkSPORT boxing: "I think Usyk is Fury's boogeyman. I think he’s got his number and knows what he needs to do to win again. It will be a great fight while it lasts."

Former super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch told talkSPORT boxing: "I'm going to have to pick Usyk just because I can't pick against him. But I do just feel that Tyson now is saying all the right things, he’s looking good, and I feel like we’re going to get the best last of him. I’m not saying he can't do it though, because he can."

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson told the Daily Mail: "Usyk is the best heavyweight in the world at the moment. But I’m going for Fury to beat him. Why? Because I’m a fan. Because his father gave him my name. I’m not abandoning him now."

Heavyweight Daniel Dubois told Podlounge UK: "I'm still backing Fury [for the win]. I hope our man does it. Usyk is capable. Fury should jump on him and smother him. Fury is a slick boxer too, but it will be a great fight and I’ll be out there calling on to fight the winner."