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Oscar De La Hoya hesitates before saying who he thinks will win the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch
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Oscar De La Hoya hesitates before saying who he thinks will win the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to return on December 21 in one of the most anticipated rematches of the decade.

Last time, Usyk handed over Fury the first defeat of his professional career by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

Fury and Usyk will face each other at the end of this year

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Fury and Usyk will face each other at the end of this yearCredit: Ian Walton/Matchroom

Since then, Usyk has been forced to give up his IBF bracelet, which is now on sale. Daniel Dubois‘ possession.

The winner will be crowned WBA, WBC and WBO champion, but whether all four belts are up for grabs or not, whoever emerges victorious will be considered the best in the world.

Given the closeness of their inaugural encounter, members of the boxing fraternity are divided on who they think will win their second encounter.

Six-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya went back and forth on his choice, but now it’s finally settled.

When asked if he thought the second fight would be different, De La Hoya responded Fight Hub TV: “Yes, just knowing some of the facts that Tyson was going through.

“That doesn’t mean Usyk is going to bring everything. He’s going to be better, faster, wiser, tougher.

“He’s going to know how to handle Tyson because of the first fight and the confidence he has…

“I think Fury, his head is going to be there for once. We didn’t know what happened, the tragic news that happened, do you know what that does to a fighter?

“Let’s talk about how much heart Tyson has to put into it. Anyone would have canceled.

“Tyson comes in there and fights Usyk, incredible. So I definitely see this fight as a 50-50 fight, but I have to give the edge to Tyson.”

De La Hoya edges Fury in rematch, but just barely

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De La Hoya edges Fury in rematch, but just barelyCredit: Getty

The tragic news that De La Hoya is referring to is the miscarriage, Fury’s wifeParis suffered on the eve of the fight against Usyk.

“She lost (the baby) the Friday of the fight, which was pretty shitty,” Fury told the assembled media.

“I’m not making excuses but she was six months pregnant. It’s not like a little miscarriage at first.

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“You have to physically give birth to a dead child, alone, while your husband is in a foreign country.

“I couldn’t be there for her at that time, and it’s hard for me.

“I’ve been with this woman longer than I was, so it’s hard not being able to be there with her…

“When she said she couldn’t come, I knew there was a problem.

“She usually comes the week of the fight, but she had high blood pressure and couldn’t come.

“I asked her what was going on and to tell me, but she didn’t. So I knew.

“I knew. I knew there was a problem. I told my brother, ‘She lost that baby.’

“She never told me she’d lost the baby, but I knew. When I returned, I got the inevitable confirmation that it was missing, but she kept it to herself.”