Eddie Hearn has changed his mind on the outcome of Saturday’s rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
Hearn will be a guest pundit on the DAZN broadcast in Riyadh as Fury looks to exact revenge over Usyk, seven months after losing his unbeaten record to the Ukrainian in the same arena by split decision.
The Matchroom boss initially sided with Usyk to secure a second straight victory over ‘The Gypsy King’.
“I think it’s difficult for anybody to pick Tyson Fury to win the fight with a level head,” Hearn told talkSPORT.
“I think it’s going to be an incredibly close fight. I think the last one was as well.
“But I just think with what we saw from Usyk in the first fight, with his ability to digest information – I think it’s very difficult to pick against him.
“I want Fury to win, I think he’s capable of winning.
“I think he’s going to have to do something extraordinary, which we’ve seen him do before.
“But I think with a level head, it’s very difficult to not pick Oleksandr Usyk in this fight.”
Fury was given a standing eight count in a disastrous ninth round, before making it to the final bell and vowed earlier this week to end the 37-year-old’s career, although his promoter Frank Warren says a third fight is contracted if he emerges victorious.
However, Hearn has now changed his mind and is backing his compatriot to avenge the sole loss of his professional career.
“I expect another really, really close fight on Saturday,” the 45-year-old said to Matchroom Boxing.
“I’m picking Tyson Fury for many reasons.
“I’ve just got a sneaky feeling.
“You start buying into the pre-fight build-up.
“I saw the stuff yesterday [at the grand arrivals].
“I thought he looks very relaxed.
“Usyk talking real cocky, real different.
“I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I’m going Tyson Fury and I’m going Tyson Fury on points.”
