Tyson Fury has been warned that he will suffer an even “worse” defeat when he renews his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk. The Gypsy King fell short in his attempt to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years when he faced the undefeated Ukrainian last month. Fury, 35, endured a split decision defeat to the slick southpaw and was extremely fortunate not to have been stopped in the ninth round of the Riyadh rumble.

The highly anticipated rematch is set to take place in the desert on December 21. Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Usyk’s London 2012 team-mate and countryman, has predicted a brutal finish for Fury in their second bout. “I think it will be even worse for Fury in the rematch,” Gvozdyk told Boxing News. “I know Usyk – once he catches you, he won’t let you go. Usyk is going to be even more confident in the next fight. Fury is better off fighting Anthony Joshua.”

Reflecting on the first fight, Gvozdyk praised Usyk’s performance and psychological edge. “The first fight was just a brilliant performance. He beat Fury everywhere, in and out of the ring. Fury likes to play mind games; in this case, it was the complete opposite. I think Usyk got in his head. I didn’t see Fury as confident as before, when he was a killer and super-confident. With Usyk, he was trying to do the same, but you can see in his eyes and by his mimics that he’s different and nervous. He was nervous in the ring. Usyk is the well-deserved No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”

Despite the loss, former WBC heavyweight champ Fury believes he won their first meeting and has vowed to come back stronger. He recently shared his determination on Instagram: “Listen up! I’ve conquered everything in boxing – titles, records, the lot. But I’ve never had to come back from a loss. On December 21st in Riyadh, in the heart of the kingdom, the king will reclaim his throne and become undisputed. Usyk, I’m coming for you! Get ready for the Gypsy King! The path to redemption is all mine. I know what I have to do, I saw my shortcomings and best believe I am inevitable.”

As the rematch approaches, both fighters are gearing up for what promises to be an intense and decisive battle. The boxing world will be watching closely to see if Fury can overcome his previous defeat or if Usyk will solidify his dominance as the top pound-for-pound fighter.