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TYSON FURY, an enthusiast of boxing, acknowledges that the statistics indicate he has under a 50-50 probability of regaining his world title from Oleksandr Usyk.
Prominent heavyweights like Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, and Lennox Lewis succeeded in their attempts right after losing their titles.
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Nevertheless, Patterson is among those who unfortunately could not succeed, joining the likes of Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Deontay Wilder, and Jack Dempsey.
While movie sequels often disappoint, certain heavyweight title rematches have been genuinely thrilling.
If Fury and Usyk can replicate the same electrifying excitement — possibly mixed with a bit of controversy — during their upcoming duel, they are sure to captivate audiences.
Pinpointing the most scandalous, outrageous, and unforgettable match since John L Sullivan first donned gloves 135 years ago is straightforward.
Evander Holyfield stunned many in 1996 by defeating Tyson in the 11th round to win the WBA title.
The two met again in that same Las Vegas ring seven months later in the infamous Bite Fight.
The vivid memory of Tyson biting off a portion of Holyfield’s ear and spitting it onto the ring remains emblazoned in my mind.
Disqualified by referee Mills Lane, Mike contended that he acted out of frustration stemming from Holyfield’s consistent headbutting.
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This incident led to a $3 million penalty and a 12-month suspension — marking the end of his dominance in the division.
Equally controversial was the event that transpired in Maine in May 1965, 14 months post-Cassius Clay’s astonishing victory over Sonny Liston to become champion.
Meet the AI boxing official who will be ringside for Fury v Usyk, with fans convinced it will ‘eliminate judges completely’
When they clashed again, Clay had adopted the name Muhammad Ali, while Liston was predicted to overtake the Louisville Lip.
However, the first round perplexed and shocked the 4,000 spectators as an unsuspecting Ali’s right cross knocked Liston to the canvas.
Ali stood over him, shouting, “Get up Sucker,” leading to the term the Phantom Punch.
New York journalist Jimmy Cannon famously remarked that the punch “couldn’t have crushed a grape.”
Liston ultimately managed to recover, but referee Jersey Joe Walcott stopped the fight after two minutes, proclaiming Ali the victor.
Given Liston’s ties to organized crime and speculations surrounding that punch, discussions about the fight’s authenticity persist today.
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ALI vs SPINKS
Fast forward thirteen years to Las Vegas, where Ali scarcely trained before meeting Olympic gold medalist Leon Spinks in what was merely his eighth professional fight.
Remarkably, Spinks secured a deserved victory on points.
Seven months later in New Orleans, Ali reversed the decision, reclaiming his position at the top of the world for the third time.
DEMPSEY vs TUNNEY
Just mentioning the Long Count, and any boxing enthusiast will instantly know what you’re referring to.
Jack Dempsey, having lost his title to Gene Tunney in 1926, aimed to reclaim it a year later.
Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round but neglected to follow the referee’s command to head to a neutral corner.
This led to Tunney lying on the canvas for nearly 14 seconds before getting up — and those extra seconds allowed him to recuperate and earn another points victory. Dempsey retired thereafter.
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PATTERSON vs JOHANSSON
In June 1960, Patterson knocked out Ingemar Johansson, making history as the first person to regain the heavyweight world title.
This feat was a gratifying recompense after his earlier defeat by Johansson.
PATTERSON vs LISTON
However, just two years later, Patterson was knocked out by Liston in a mere 126 seconds of the first round.
Patterson’s subsequent attempt to reclaim the title ten months later, lasted just four seconds longer against Liston.
HOLMES vs SPINKS
Larry Holmes dominated for a solid seven years, with expectations he would surpass Rocky Marciano’s stellar 49-0 record.
However, in September 1985, Michael Spinks stunned everyone by becoming the first world light-heavyweight champion to win boxing’s prestigious title, outpointing Holmes over 15 rounds.
Spinks repeated that success seven months later.
FURY vs WILDER
In their trilogy, Wilder, despite experiencing two knockdowns and knocking Fury down twice, appeared to be outmatched.
He ultimately faced an 11-round knockout in his third fight endeavoring to regain his title.
LEWIS vs RAHMAN
In April 2001, Lennox Lewis faced challenges due to poor preparation for the high altitude of Johannesburg.
Twenty-to-one underdog Hasim Rahman astonished everyone by knocking him out in five rounds, marking one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history.
Lewis was compelled to take Rahman to court to enforce their rematch clause.
Rahman’s tenure lasted just seven months before Lewis reclaimed his title with a seventh-round knockout in Las Vegas.
It seems unlikely there will be any biting, disqualifications, long counts, or Phantom Punches in the anticipated match in Riyadh this Saturday night.
Instead, let us hope that Fury and Usyk’s contest turns into a remarkable, high-caliber bout with a clear outcome.
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Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – everything you need to know for the upcoming rematch
