Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn is among those who have made his predictions for the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch. In a surprise announcement, Hearn has changed his mind about who is the favourite for the clash, leaving more than one surprised.

“Fury wins, I’m leaning towards him, I’ve changed my mind a little bit,” Hearn said, surprising the crowd, weeks before he predicted Usyk would win in a chat with the same YouTube channel.

“I have no idea how to beat Usyk, but Tyson Fury is a very smart fighter,” Hearn said in October. “He has very smart people in his corner, and from a boxing strategy point of view, he’s at the top. And unfortunately, Usyk is there too. So my money, especially when he wins the first fight, will always be on Usyk.”

“I would like to see Fury win, but I see him as the underdog in this fight,” were the promoter’s direct words a few weeks ago.

However, this change in direction seems to have an economic interest beyond the sporting side, so Hearn changed his mind about thinking about the future.

“I think Fury could face Anthony Joshua for the unified world heavyweight championship. It would be the biggest fight in the history of the sport. At Wembley, Riyadh, anywhere,” said Hearn.

“My heart wants to see Tyson Fury win,” the promoter added. “Not only because he’s British, but also because I want to organise the fight against AJ.”

For his part, Tyson Fury is also thinking about the future. In an interview with DAZN, the Englishman explained that there should be a third fight against Oleksandr Usyk if he wins on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Usyk won a split decision in the first heavyweight fight in May, and the dramatic night in Saudi Arabia saw the Ukrainian crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion across all four belts.

In a tense fight, which could have gone either way, Usyk claimed the victory after three of the four judges deemed him the winner.

This was Fury’s first defeat in his 16-year professional career, leaving him in a state of deep shock and wanting revenge.

In other news, boxing legend Mike Tyson’s wife, Lakiha “Kiki” Spicer, has decided that his boxing days are over. It appears that Tyson, known for his stellar career and subsequent comebacks, is now facing his final retirement with Spicer by his side.

According to Tyson’s son Amir, Spicer has been a key figure in Tyson’s life and does not support any future foray into boxing. Speaking to The Sun, Amir revealed: “My stepmother says it’s over now, they’re a team. “This is a husband and wife thing.”

Spicer’s decision comes after Tyson’s controversial fight against YouTuber Jake Paul, in which the former heavyweight champion struggled to stay on his feet in the closing rounds. Although the fight ended in a decision loss for Tyson, many believe Paul helped the 57-year-old legend avoid a knockout.

The impact of the fight with Jake Paul raised doubts about Tyson’s ability to continue competing. After the fight, Jake Paul said, “I didn’t want to hurt someone who didn’t need to be hurt.” However, Tyson seemed less convinced about his retirement, joking about a possible fight against Paul’s brother Logan.

“I don’t know [if I’ll fight again]. It depends on the situation,” Tyson said in a post-fight interview. Logan, quick to respond, taunted Tyson by saying, “I’m going to kill you, Mike.” Tyson replied, “Then let’s go.”

Despite the jokes, Amir Tyson hinted that his father wouldn’t pay much attention to outside advice, not even from family. “He’s his own man,” Amir said. “If I tell him too much, he’ll tell me to shut up.”

End of career under the microscope

The fallout from Tyson’s last fight has been anything but easy. Lawsuits surrounding the event, involving promoters, Netflix, and the fighters themselves, have kept Tyson’s name in the headlines.

With Spicer’s steadiness and Tyson’s final struggles in the ring, it seems the former champion’s gloves will finally be hung up for good. Spicer’s influence, coupled with Tyson’s age and physical wear and tear, could spell the end of one of boxing’s most vibrant and turbulent careers.

As fans await confirmation, one thing is clear: Tyson’s journey from boxing legend to cultural icon has left an indelible mark. Whether he fights again or not, “The Baddest Man on the Planet” remains a larger-than-life figure.