Sparring partner: ‘Tyson Fury’s stronger and more explosive this time’

Tyson Fury’s sparring partner Kevin Lerena believes that Fury is stronger and more explosive than his first camp to fight Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury fights Usyk again on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in a rematch for the WBA, WBO and WBC heavyweight titles after they competed in a thrilling contest back in May.

Lerena was one of Fury’s sparring partners for his original camp for Usyk, during which he suffered a cut that forced its postponement until May, and then helped Fury prepare to rematch for Usyk again in his most recent training camp in Malta.

Fury has been vocal about how he intends to adapt for their rematch and plans on knocking Usyk out. Lerena has recognised clear physical changes since he sparred Fury for the originally scheduled date.

“He’s stronger than he was in the first camp, that I can tell you,” Lerena told BoxingScene. “I’m going to just say that. He’s feeling stronger and he’s feeling more explosive. So that’s all I’m going to say, and yes, it’s a boxing match but if you’re stronger and more explosive you’re taking in a little bit more ammo, a little bit more artillery.”

For all of the differences Lerena has seen in Fury’s physicality, when it comes to his mentality, the South African has noticed no change.

“Tyson then and Tyson now, no difference, he’s just as hungry,” said Lerena. “He’s working hard. He’s a phenomenal fighter. He’s got a great boxing IQ, and I think Tyson Fury’s Tyson Fury, I think you’ve got to look at it as the first fight was such a close fight, so he didn’t do much wrong in training. He was winning up until he got caught probably in the ninth round which swung it away.

“The first fight was so close you don’t want to change much, so he’s working hard in camp, he’s looking good, explosive, and I’m just excited for the second fight – I think it’s going to be a great fight.

“I can’t give any sort of game plans or what he’s doing in the sparring, but one thing I can tell you, if you’re not on your A game, you’re in a heap of shit.He’s the ‘Gypsy King’; he’s been in there many times; he knows his way around the ring. He can fight going forward. He can fight going back. He can box. He’s got skills. He can move.

“So it’s whatever he wants to do on the day, but if you’re not on your A game, you’re going to have your hands full. That I can tell you. So that’s not giving away too much.”

Fury has spoken of how he has locked himself away during his training camp and of how he has not spoken to his wife Paris for over three months. Lerena, though, revealed the Fury he has been in camp with has been in good spirits.

“He’s always great to be around – it’s always a laugh,” said Lerena. “Obviously, it’s very serious when we’re training. He works super hard, I’m a hard worker myself, and that’s why I’m in camp, because I’m here to push him to even harder limits. But he’s in a good space. He’s happy, and obviously, as you can see on his social media, he’s having a good time and enjoying his training, and I think a dangerous man is one who’s enjoying himself in what he does.”

Fury has had more than one fight with three opponents during his career – John McDermott, Derek Chisora, and Deontay Wilder, and each ended in stoppage wins for Fury.  Lerena believes that will be a telling factor when he faces Usyk for a second time.

“I believe Tyson beats him, you know, I truly do,” he said. “We know Tyson Fury comes back and he knows what to do in his rematches. There’s proof in the pudding and the boxing records show that. But I just think that I know the first fight was so close and Tyson was doing extremely well. So there’s no reason why he can’t beat him in the rematch.

“He now knows what he has to do. Having said that, Usyk also knows what he’s up against. So both guys are going to prepare, but I think Tyson knows what he needs to do to win and I think it should fall in his favor to be honest. I think Tyson stops him; no one has stopped Usyk, and I’m not discrediting Oleksandr Usyk, he’s one of the greats of our era and he’s a phenomenal fighter, but I think if there is a man who can stop him in his tracks, it’s Tyson Fury.”