I was right with my Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk prediction last time but the rematch won’t be nearly as tight

MUHAMMAD ALI made many profound statements — and one in particular would be as painful to Tyson Fury as a stab in the back.

Ali said: “If you lose a big fight, it will worry you all of your life — it will plague you until you get your revenge.”

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Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury duel again on December 21[/caption]

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Usyk will be hoping to land back-to-back wins over the Gypsy King[/caption]

It would be interesting to know how many sleepless nights Fury has suffered since he lost his WBC world heavyweight title to Oleksandr Usyk seven months ago.

Tyson is a very proud fighting man and to lose the crown he held for six years, as well as his 16-year unbeaten record, would have hurt deeply.

It appears that defeat has had a humbling effect on the Gypsy King if what happened at the press conference in London’s historic Guildhall two months ago is anything to go by.

Fury was far from his bombastic self and was certainly not accusing WBC, WBA and WBO world champion Usyk of being a dosser — his usual insult.

After all, that would have meant admitting he lost to a dosser. 

He obviously has the greatest respect for Usyk — as confirmed when his rival opened a briefcase and produced a large photograph of himself landing an almighty punch on Fury’s chin.

He asked Fury — who was on his best behaviour — to sign the picture, which he did with a smile.

My gut feeling tells me the Tyson of a few years ago would have torn it in half. 

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He was the even-money favourite before their first clash in Riyadh and in an extremely close, exciting 12-round battle, Usyk deserved to win the split decision.

This time Usyk is favourite but only just at 4-5. Previewing the last fight, I felt Fury was in decline and his brutal trilogy with Deontay Wilder had taken its toll on his reflexes. Nor did his celebrity lifestyle help.

Also, in Usyk he was facing one of boxing’s great technocrats with a brain as sharp as an uncut diamond — a superb strategist who never loses his cool. It was no surprise he proved clever enough  to nullify

Fury’s superior size and power to win a justified split decision and become the first unified heavyweight champ for 24 years.

Nothing has happened since to make me change my mind — except stupidly, the IBF made Usyk relinquish their version of the title — and I believe we are going to see more of the same, perhaps with a less debatable finish when they square up again a week tomorrow.

Fury says he is going to eliminate the showboating that he believes cost him dear.

Banning his vociferous and disruptive father from his corner might also help.

Fury said: “I’m going to be a bit more focused and there will be no complacency. There’s nothing drastic I have to change.

“It’s no secret that this time I’m going in there to knock him out because I don’t think I’ll get a points decision.”

Fury may well carry out a sustained body attack — where he feels Usyk is at his most vulnerable — and he is still capable of reclaiming his status as world champion.

But now he knows from experience he is not capable of outboxing the Usyk the master craftsman.

Back in May, Usyk’s ferocious attack in round nine had a dazed Fury floundering.

Many good judges felt American ref Mark Nelson should have stopped the fight instead of giving Tyson a standing eight count which saw him reach the bell. 

Usyk is no banger and seeing Fury in such distress suggests his punch resistance is nowhere near what it was.

Again, Usyk will be on a mission to boost the morale of 40million war-torn fellow Ukranians. 

It’s a terrible burden to carry but I doubt he will let them down. It would not surprise me if he stops Fury late on.

They say revenge is best served cold — Fury will find that very difficult in the Saudi heat.