Tyson Fury is ‘a lot different’ in training ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, according to sparring partner Moses Itauma.
The 36-year-old has been working hard behind the scenes as he looks to avenge his defeat from earlier in the year, having been defeated via split decision.
Fury was hurt by the first professional loss of his glittering career, having coped well for the most part.
He will be going against a Usyk who is unbeaten and widely considered the best heavyweight of the current division
Tyson Fury has been taking his fight with Oleksandr Usyk extremely seriously as he prepares for his return to the ring
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Yet Itauma, speaking to Sky Sports, feels Fury’s mentality has ‘switched’ and that he’s working harder, and with more intensity, than ever before.
“He’s a lot different. His mentality has switched,” he said.
“He wasn’t the nice guy anymore. He was actually there to train.
“Normally, when I did [previously] train with him in Saudi and Morecambe, we would spar together, bag, circuits together, run together, do strength and conditioning together, but this time he was like solely focused on doing it by himself.
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“And he was like, ‘I’m a lone soldier, I’m a lone wolf’.
“He would get hit with a good shot and he was screaming. I was like, ‘this guy’s a lunatic’. But to be in this sport you need to be a little bit mad.”
Speaking recently, Fury said that he was boxing for the money.
He has been frank over the years, insisting that he’s not bothered about his legacy in the sport.
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But Itauma doesn’t think that’s the case, with the youngster saying Fury is determined to prove a point as he prepares for his return to the ring.
“I don’t think Tyson’s doing this for the money,” he continued.
“So, if he’s not doing it for the money, what is he doing it for?
“Because he actually wants to beat Oleksandr Usyk, and if he did do it for the money, he would have packed up a long time ago.
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Tyson Fury has been hailed by Moses Itauma as he looks to avenge his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
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“So, with that in mind, people need to bear that in mind. Saturday night, it’s going to be Tyson Fury coming to fight, coming to win.
“I don’t feel like he’s going to just come and get knocked over, because he could have just not trained. And trust me, I was in the training camp, he was training hard.”
Fury has won 34 of his 36 career fights.
As well as his defeat to Usyk, he previously drew with Deontay Wilder in the first of instalment of their trilogy fights in 2018.
Tyson Fury is facing a powerhouse in Oleksandr Usyk as their boxing rematch creeps closer
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As for Usyk, the 37-year-old has a flawless record from 22 bouts.
In addition to beating Fury, he’s overcome the likes of Daniel Dubois, Tony Bellew and Anthony Joshua in the past.
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