Why Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier is the best predictor for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 - the similarities are spooky

Mark Twain once said that “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” Essentially the inimitable American writer is suggesting here that while events may not occur again in exactly the same way, there are often enough similarities to make it seem like a spot of deja vu.

And fight fans of a certain age may have been forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu themselves after watching the first Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk fight back in May.  

Hall-of-Fame promoter Frank Warren is on record as saying their first tango at the Kingdom Arena was "the biggest fight of the 21st century".

The biggest fight of the 20th century? That would be March 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

• Read next | Exploring Tyson Fury's form - is the best still to come or now past his peak?

A heavyweight confrontation that would go down in history: Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier, a throw down that was dubbed ‘The Fight of the Century’.

It’s hard to put into words just how big that fight was at the time. Demand to see such an epic showdown was so intense, the story goes that legendary crooner Frank Sinatra had to take a side gig as a photographer for Life Magazine just to get inside Madison Square Garden.

And looking back there are so many similarities between Ali vs Frazier 1 and Fury vs Usyk 1.

Right off the bat in both fights it was unbeaten champion against unbeaten champion. One was a lineal champ who had a long break in his career during his peak years, and another who ended up with his opponent's old belts as a result.

In terms of personality, both fights involved a braggadocio loudmouth and a quiet, no-nonsense type of guy who preferred to let his fists do the talking.

Both fights were elite level in terms of skill, and both swung one way then another, with a late knockdown proving decisive in each.

The smaller boxer in each fight relied on head movement and foot work to weave his way into range so he could connect against a taller foe, and the betting outsider won in both contests (Ali was an 8/11 chance with UK bookmakers going into the Frazier fight).

Indeed, there are even similarities around the amazing recuperative powers of Ali and Fury.

Just as anyone who witnessed the vicious shellacking Fury took in round 9 in Riyadh will wonder how he stayed on his feet and survived, the fact that Ali was able to recover from that infamous Frazier left hook knock down in round 15 of their super fight – a punch so vicious it might have knocked down a wall - is just beyond comprehension.

Like Ali did in the 1970s, Fury took a bit of stick in the press afterwards for his clowning, while Usyk was perpetual motion all through their fight, just like Smokin’ Joe all those years ago.   

It's an interesting comparison, and let’s not forget in the aftermath of both title fights both Ali and Fury alluded that they played too much and just needed to get serious next time.

For Ali, he was as good as his word, beating Frazier unanimously on points in a return fight at MSG just over three years later, before their brutal third act in 1975, billed as the ‘Thrilla in Manila’.

Can Fury also gain his revenge and reign as a three-time heavyweight champion? We will find out soon enough. 

But as the two best heavyweights in the world gather in Saudi Arabia this week and prepare to leave it all on the line once again for our entertainment and compete for the championship of each other, they should perhaps take a minute and listen closely to the echoes of history.

Watch Usyk vs. Fury 2 on DAZN PPV

The Oleksandr Usyk/Tyson Fury rematch and full undercard is a DAZN Pay-Per-View (PPV) worldwide event and will cost £24.99 in the UK / $39.95 in the US. For prices in your region click here.

A PPV event is a single one-off payment, with no subscription requirement or extra costs. Buying the Usyk vs. Fury 2 PPV on DAZN brings great benefits.

This includes a range of options to watch the fight, from the traditional commentary to watchalongs with True Geordie or ShowBizz; the best broadcast team including Kate Scott, Ade Oladipo, Andy Lee, Darren Barker and Eddie Hearn; and commentary in multiple languages.

The PPV also comes with a seven-day free trial of the whole DAZN platform.

The Usyk vs. Fury fight and all DAZN content can be watched anywhere and everywhere on any device via the DAZN App. Watch on smart TV's, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, streaming devices and any device with a web browser.

Buy Usyk vs. Fury 2 PPV on DAZN now.