Seven months on from the biggest scare of his boxing career, Tyson Fury is back to show what unfolded against Francis Ngannou was a momentary lapse, rather than a sign his formidable powers are finally on the wane.<\/p>\n Fury walked away the winner after his wild night against the former UFC heavyweight champion last October, his undefeated record still intact and Saturday\u2019s undisputed showdown against Oleksandr Usyk still on the horizon.<\/p>\n But in an unforgettable third round, his world was shaken when he was sent crashing to the mat by the Cameroonian in one of the sport\u2019s truly extraordinary moments.<\/p>\n Of course, it wasn\u2019t the first time Fury had been sent to the canvas. The Briton rose from the dead in the 12th<\/sup> round of his first showdown with Deontay Wilder in 2018 and was floored twice in their ferocious trilogy fight three years later only to have his hand raised on both occasions.<\/p>\n But clearly not in fighting shape, questions were asked of the WBC champion last year. Tyson\u2019s father John Fury, centre stage this week after headbutting a member of team Usyk on a Monday afternoon, repeatedly raised concerns over how his son had prepared for that fight, fearing a decline had begun to show.<\/p>\n \u2018For my money, his last three fights, I have seen a bit of decline. Not a decline in ability but a decline in strength, power and physical condition,\u2019 Fury told Metro.co.uk last November. \u2018I don\u2019t know what they are doing up there, you have to address it. He didn\u2019t look himself out in Saudi.\u2019<\/p>\n Fury, an overwhelming favourite heading into last year\u2019s fight, was reluctant to admit he took Ngannou lightly but the signs were clear and obvious, as is the change in the champion since then.<\/p>\n The Fury we have seen leading into Saturday\u2019s historic undisputed fight is a man physically transformed, looking perhaps the leanest and lightest he has been since his return to boxing in 2018 as he prepares to battle the fleet-footed Ukrainian.<\/p>\n While it also may have its tactical benefits against a smaller, more elusive fighter in Usyk to try to match his speed and mobility, Fury\u2019s change will also represent the extreme demands he has put upon himself and the renewed focus he has instilled since last October\u2019s scare.<\/p>\n \u2018Tyson will privately admit this himself, he was very poor against Ngannou,\u2019 former super-bantamweight and featherweight world champion Carl Frampton said. \u2018People have accused of him being on the slide, being on the way out but I would hope it was just a bad performance that night.<\/p>\n \u2018He wasn\u2019t in great shape, it looked like he hadn\u2019t trained very hard, if at all. But when you\u2019ve got everyone and their granny saying it\u2019s an easy fight you probably start to believe that yourself. So I think that might have been what happened and Tyson underestimated him. I know that won\u2019t happen against Usyk.\u2019<\/p>\n Fury\u2019s weight has been much discussed in fight week with Usyk describing the towering Briton as \u2018skinny\u2019 after seeing him for the first time in Saudi Arabia. \u2018Skinny? I\u2019m 19-odd stone,\u2019 Fury replied. <\/p>\n Fury is still expected to weigh in heavier than Usyk, who hit the scales at 220.9lbs for his last fight against Daniel Dubois last August. And even a slimmed down version will boast a five-inch advantage in height, along with a seven-inch advantage in reach.<\/p>\n![\"Tyson](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-2148134558.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=644%2C429\")
\n<\/div>![\"Tyson](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-1762982688.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C360\")
\n<\/div>![\"Tyson](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-2152748357.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C467\")
\n<\/div>