Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is gearing up for the highly anticipated rematch against Oleksandr Usyk this December in Saudi Arabia, driven by a hunger for redemption. Meanwhile, fellow Brit and former world champion Ricky Hatton has offered Fury valuable advice on how to conquer ‘The Cat.’

Despite Fury’s considerable reach, height, and weight advantages, the undefeated Ukrainian held his ground and maintained control in their bout last May. Fury’s trademark tactic of leveraging his physical edge to exhaust opponents fell short, resulting in Usyk controlling the tempo and eventually stealing the win via split decision.

Hatton believes Fury must fully capitalize on his natural advantages this time to prevent history from repeating itself. “I think Fury can make changes. If he uses his height, which he didn’t use last time, If he uses his weight, which he didn’t use last time. If he uses his reach, which he didn’t use last time, I think he shouldn’t have someone as small as Usyk pushing him around the ring,” Hatton told Pro Box Fans.

However, that’s not the only change Hatton has suggested Fury should make before his upcoming bout on December 21st. Observers of the May fight noticed confusion in Fury’s corner, with reports of unclear instructions that may have impacted his performance. Although Fury has indicated he’ll keep his current team, Hatton believes a fresh approach in his corner could make all the difference.

Speaking to The Daily Mail a handful of days ago, ‘The Hitman’ Hatton felt if Fury “has one voice in the corner, he could be more successful.” Addressing the problem Fury had in his corner last time, Hatton said, “There should always be one voice. You can speak to any trainer, and they will tell you that the boxer isn’t going to take the information in if it’s coming from here, there, and everywhere.”

While Hatton felt making these changes could help Fury improve his chances of a win, he is not counting out Oleksandr Usyk. 

Ricky Hatton reminds Tyson Fury that Oleksandr Usyk can’t be taken for granted

Fury has a way of getting into his opponents’ heads with trash talk before his bouts. However, Hatton feels none of those mind games work on Usyk. “He’s not bothered by the mind games one bit, is he Usyk,” Hatton told Daily Mail. “It just goes in one ear and out the other, doesn’t it?” Hatton felt fighters like Usyk come along once in a while, as he praised Usyk’s accomplishments. 

Oleksandr Usyk clinched gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics and went on to capture undisputed titles in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions—a rare and remarkable feat. Reflecting on Usyk’s skill, Hatton remarked, “He’s an unbelievable talent that can’t be taken for granted.” But Hatton’s words also carried a warning for Fury: “Whatever Tyson does isn’t going to affect him. It’s not going to get through to him.”

Although Ricky Hatton believes Tyson Fury has the tools to beat Oleksandr Usyk, he remains hesitant to pick a clear winner. The same goes for most experts in the business, showcasing the true scale of abilities both Fury and Usyk carry. Who do you think is going to win?