Bernard Hopkins believes Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will end in dramatic fashion.
Fury is set to try and beat Usyk for a second time on December 21 after failing in their undisputed title clash in May, where he was denied a chance to make history as he succumbed to a split decision defeat.
It was the ‘Gypsy King’s first career defeat, during which he was knocked down by the talented Ukrainian, but he believed he had done enough to have his hand raised.
Boxing legend Hopkins, who held world titles in two weight classes, anticipates it will be Fury who will give a ‘mercy’ call to the referee to stop the clash.
“I think the smaller guy is really the big guy in heart and the big guy in talent,” he told Fight Hub TV.
“I believe Usyk has his number, and I believe that he’s not a big heavyweight, which I think helps him in this particular fight.
“I just think he has the IQ that Tyson Fury won’t be able to keep up and withstand as time or rounds go on.
“I like Usyk, possibly by stoppage late, and not from a punch, I think it will just be a mercy call by the referee.”
Usyk came dangerously close to stopping the contest when dropping Fury in round nine, but the resilient Briton has incredible powers of recovery.
He was able to survive and cling on until the bell sounded, and was even able to claw his way back into proceedings in the final three stanzas that followed.
Despite the frightening moment for Fury, he still felt he had done enough to win the contest even putting himself ahead on his own scorecard.
The former WBC champion will be hopeful that things will be different this time with more ideal preparations planned.
Fury was unable to spar before his last fight, after he was cut in sparring prior to their original date in February.
But he has already re-entered the gym months before the second meeting, despite not yet being in a full training camp.
The boxing world suggested he will need adjustments to get revenge against Usyk, with some even pointing blame at his corner team involving father John Fury.
But the British star insists things will largely remain the same as he felt he just needed the verdict of the judges in their maiden meeting.
He said: “I know what I’ve got to do, nothing drastic.
“People can say ‘I want to change trainers or I’ll blame it on me conditioning coach or I’ll blame it on the cook or I’ll blame it on the mouse next door.’
“For me it is the same team, same everything. I know what I’ve got to do. I thought I won the fight last time.
“I give him, me boxing all my life and watching boxing my whole career, I give him rounds eight, nine and ten, and round nine was a 10-8.
“So that’s what I give him out of the fight, but obviously the judges saw it a bit different, couple of them did.
“One of them had me winning. That’s what it was. It was as close as it can be.
“There’s no secret – I’m going in there to knock him out because I don’t think I’m gonna get a decision no matter what I do.”
