TYSON FURY, a devoted follower of boxing, understands that his prospects of regaining the world title from Oleksandr Usyk are currently less than even.

Greats such as Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, and Lennox Lewis successfully reclaimed their titles in their subsequent fights after losing.

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Nevertheless, Patterson was not alone in this endeavor; he joins the likes of Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Deontay Wilder, and Jack Dempsey in their struggles to reclaim the title.

While sequels in cinema often disappoint, certain heavyweight title rematches have proven to be exceptional.

Should Fury and Usyk deliver the same exhilarating experience — and possibly some controversy — during their upcoming matchup, they are sure to captivate the audience.

Identifying the most scandalous, unbelievable, and unforgettable fight since John L Sullivan donned gloves 135 years ago is quite straightforward.

Evander Holyfield shocked the world in 1996 by defeating Tyson in 11 rounds to win the WBA title.

The two fighters met once more in the infamous Bite Fight just seven months later in that same Las Vegas ring.

The chilling memory of Tyson biting off a portion of Holyfield’s ear and discarding it onto the canvas still lingers vividly.

Disqualified by referee Mills Lane, Mike claimed his actions were a result of frustration due to Holyfield’s headbutt.

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This led to a $3 million fine and a year-long suspension, effectively ending his dominant reign in the heavyweight division.

Equally controversial was the encounter in Maine in May 1965, 14 months following Cassius Clay’s stunning triumph over Sonny Liston to claim the championship.

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When they faced each other again, Clay had adopted the name Muhammad Ali, and Liston was heavily favored to overpower the Louisville Lip.

However, the first round left the 4,000 spectators both perplexed and astonished as an unsuspecting Ali’s right cross sent Liston sprawling to the canvas.

Ali loomed over him calling out, “Get up, Sucker,” and this moment became known as the Phantom Punch.

New York sportswriter Jimmy Cannon remarked that the punch “couldn’t have crushed a grape.”

Liston eventually managed to rise, but referee Jersey Joe Walcott stopped the fight after two minutes, declaring Ali the victor.

Given Liston’s ties to organized crime and the uncertainties surrounding that punch, debates over the fight’s authenticity persist to this day.

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ALI vs SPINKS

Fast forward thirteen years to Las Vegas, where Ali hardly trained at all before battling Olympic gold medalist Leon Spinks in what was merely his eighth professional bout.

Remarkably, Spinks earned a just victory on points.

Seven months later in New Orleans, Ali evened the score, reversing the decision and, for the third time, finding himself at the pinnacle of boxing.

DEMPSEY vs TUNNEY

Mention the Long Count, and any boxing aficionado will understand the reference instantly.

Jack Dempsey, who lost his title to Gene Tunney in 1926, sought to reclaim it a year later.

Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round but disregarded the referee’s command to proceed to a neutral corner.

This resulted in Tunney lying on the ground for nearly 14 seconds before rising — those precious extra seconds allowed him to recuperate and ultimately secure another points victory. Dempsey never fought again.

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PATTERSON vs JOHANSSON

In June 1960, Patterson knocked out Ingemar Johansson, making history as the first individual to reclaim the heavyweight world title.

This was a gratifying act of revenge following his earlier defeat by Johansson.

PATTERSON vs LISTON

However, just two years later, Patterson was knocked out by Liston in a mere 126 seconds of the first round.

Patterson tried to reclaim the title again ten months later but only managed to last four seconds longer against Liston.

HOLMES vs SPINKS

Larry Holmes had dominated for seven years and aimed to surpass Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.

Yet in September 1985, Michael Spinks made history as the first world light-heavyweight champion to grab boxing’s most coveted prize by outpointing Holmes over 15 rounds.

Spinks duplicated his victory seven months later.

FURY vs WILDER

In their trilogy, Wilder found himself overwhelmed despite knocking Fury down twice; he ultimately absorbed an 11-round knockout in his final attempt to regain his title.

LEWIS vs RAHMAN

In April 2001, Lennox Lewis fell victim to inadequate preparation for the soaring altitude of Johannesburg at 5,500 feet.

Twenty-to-one underdog Hasim Rahman shocked the world by knocking him out in five rounds, marking one of the greatest upsets in heavyweight history.

Lewis was forced to take legal action against Rahman to enforce the rematch clause in their contract.

Rahman’s reign was brief, ending seven months later when Lewis knocked him out in the seventh round in Las Vegas, reclaiming his title.

It’s unlikely that there will be any incidents of ear-biting, disqualifications, long counts, or Phantom Punches during the bout in Riyadh this Saturday night.

Instead, let’s hope that Fury and Usyk deliver a memorable, high-caliber fight that leaves no room for disputes over the outcome.

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Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – your comprehensive guide to the upcoming rematch