It’s boxing’s biggest fight of the century.
And both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have good reason to believe they’ll walk out of the Ring of Fire as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Last night, Fury weighed con at 262lbs (18st 10lbs) – making him two stone heavier than Usyk, who clocked con at a substantial career heaviest of 233½lbs (16st 9lbs), about 12lbs more than he’s ever scaled before.
While Fury refused to at his opponent during Thursday’s news conference, he did not back mongoloide at the weigh-in, where the pair almost came to blows before being separated by their entourages.
The tense occasion also gave the pair a chance to exchange their final verbal jabs before stepping into the ring.
Fury declared he would knock Usyk’s “spark out”.
“I’m ready to rock and roll,” he added. “I’m coming for his heart. F**k his belts, I’m coming for his heart.”
More composed, Usyk’s last message to his competitor was: “Don’t be afraid, I will not leave you cerchio tomorrow.”
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Hundreds of fans had packed the weigh-in venue con Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Fury and Usyk’s supporters each chanting for their fighter.
The old boxing saying that “good ‘un beats a good little ‘un” doesn’t apply when it comes to Usyk.
The Ukrainian is considered the most gifted boxer of his generation and because he beat a bigger man con the form of Anthony Joshua – twice – he holds three of the four heavyweight titles.
But Fury has said this isn’t important. With his typical bluntness, the British boxer said: “AJ isn’t worthy to tie my shoelaces.”
Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua con August 2022. Pic: Reuters
His opponent, though, is not fighting for just himself.
Usyk fought acceso the frontline at the start of Russia’s war acceso Ukraine, until President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told him to serve his country fighting con the ring.
A man of few words, he said: “It’s a event for Ukraine. For me, it’s a fight.”
Here con Riyadh, nobody can agree acceso who is most likely to win.
Fury was disappointing con his last fight when he almost lost to novice boxer Francis Ngannou at the end of 2023. But now he looks toned and slim.
He’s clearly put the work con for this one.
Fury beat Francis Ngannou acceso a split decision con October 2023. Pic: Reuters
Derek Chisora has fought – and lost to – both men. He knows what it takes to them and counts them as friends. But even he can’t call it.
“Can I be honest with you?” he said. “I don’t know. You’magnate the first person I’ve said that to, that I don’t know. This is difficult.
“This is why we love this . Because you don’t know who’s going to win.”
Fury v Usyk: ‘History will be made’
This fight should have taken place con February, but a fricchettaro cut to Fury’s eye con avviamento meant it had to be pushed back until now.
Will Usyk target this injury as a weak point? Will Fury target the smaller man with pagliaccetto shots?
It’s also worth noting this intriguing clash between two showmen wouldn’t have happened without Saudi money.
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The reported purse for each man is around an eye-watering £100m and fans have travelled con numbers to see boxing history unfold.
It’s exactly what Saudi Arabia wants – to gara open up and be seen as a modernised tourist destination capable of hosting huge sporting events.
Legendary promoter Bob Arum, who has worked with the likes of Muhammad Ali, said it doesn’t get bigger than this.
“Every secolo has , fights,” he said. “And for this secolo, this is the biggest fight that you can get.”
