Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk II undercard receives mixed reaction
Turki Al-Alshikh has quickly made a name for himself in boxing, known for delivering star-studded undercards and thrilling main events since diving into the sport last year. Now, with just two months to go before the intriguing rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, the full card has been announced. However, Al-Alshikh hasn't received the reaction he might have hoped for.
Usyk and Fury previously clashed in an instant classic earlier this year, where the Ukrainian emerged as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, solidifying his legacy while handing Fury his first career loss. Despite the defeat, Fury showcased his skills during that match, and he remains confident he can turn the tables in the rematch.
As anticipation for the rematch builds, fans are hoping the main event will be just as memorable, though some have expressed concerns about the undercard.
On that undercard, Serhii Bohachuk will face Israil Madrimov in a super-welterweight showdown. Both fighters impressed in their last outings, despite suffering respectable defeats to Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Terence Crawford, respectively.
Meanwhile, rising British heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma takes a significant leap in competition as he goes up against Australia’s Demsey McKean, who is eager to bounce back from the first loss of his 23-fight career.
Two other British heavyweights will also clash as fan-favorite Johnny Fisher returns following an impressive first-round stoppage of Alen Babic. He'll face another popular Brit, Dave Allen, who has served as a sparring partner for Usyk in the past.
Additionally, Dennis McCann and Peter McGrail are both looking to move closer to a super-bantamweight world title shot in what promises to be an evenly matched fight. Rounding out the card, Isaac Lowe and Lee McGregor will face off in a featherweight contest.
Despite the buzz, some fans on social media have claimed they feel “underwhelmed” by the undercard for such a blockbuster event. However, British boxing manager Sam Jones came to the bill's defense, asserting that every fight on the undercard is worthy of being a main event.
“Every fight on the undercard is a headline fight,” Jones tweeted.
He went on to highlight the excitement in specific matchups:
- “Bohachuk vs. Madrimov is an absolute war.”
- “Fisher vs. Allen is a headline fight at the Copper Box, no doubt.”
- “Itauma stepping up to face McKean is a great fight.”
- “McCann vs. McGrail is one of the best fights you can make in British boxing.”
- “McGregor vs. Lowe is also a brilliant fight.”
He even cheekily added, “Oh, and the main event isn’t bad either. How anyone can moan about this is absolutely baffling. Come on, in what world would a card like this ever take place?”
While the undercard may lack a superstar draw, each matchup looks to be well-matched, raising the question of whether Al-Alshikh has set expectations so high that fans will never be fully satisfied. Regardless, the event is expected to rake in significant pay-per-view sales due to the strength of the main attraction, as Fury and Usyk prepare for their historic showdown on December 21st.
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