Additionally, the belts that are up for grabs, the location of the “Ring of Fire” fight, and the exchanges between the fighters
Tonight, Tyson Fury defends the undisputed world heavyweight title against Oleksandr Usyk, and he claims he doesn’t care about his fighting history.
In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Fury stated, “I don’t really care what people think 100 years from now.” No matter what is said about a boxing match in 100 years, the dust from our bones won’t be around.
Fury recorded his weight on Friday at 262 pounds, while Usyk recorded his career-high weight of 233 pounds.
The contenders nearly clashed on a crowded weigh-in platform, with a deafening din greeting the Britishman. Fury shoved his opponent as the two boxers squared off, but security personnel moved swiftly to separate them when Fury dropped his head on Usyk.
View our selection of prefight picks from boxing throughout the globe in the lead-up to the fight, and learn the thoughts of three of Usyk’s past opponents on what makes him such a formidable foe.
When is Usyk vs. Fury?
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will square off in the undisputed heavyweight match this evening (Saturday). At approximately 11 p.m. (BST), the ring walks are anticipated.
The highly anticipated match was originally scheduled to happen in Saudi Arabia in February, but it was rescheduled after the British player got a “freak cut” above the eye while practicing.
Tyson Fury’s father, John Fury, gave a member of Usyk’s entourage a headbutt at a media event on Monday. The two boxers squared off during a press conference on Thursday, or would have if Tyson Fury hadn’t declined to go up against his Ukrainian opponent.
Where in the UK can I watch Fury vs. Usyk?
The fight will be accessible in the UK on TNT Sports, Sky Sports, and DAZN.
The pricing will be £24.95 through Sky Sports Box Office or £24.99 for brand-new DAZN subscribers, which also includes a month’s worth of streaming service subscription. For current clients, the price is £23.99. The bout will cost spectators £24.99 to watch on TNT Sports Box Office.
What channel is Fury vs. Usyk on?
No. Despite traveling to Saudi Arabia in an attempt to win the radio broadcast rights, the BBC was unsuccessful. Talk sport is also unable to air the fight because of an ongoing conflict with Fury’s management. Because of this, the fight will not be heard on UK radio.
Where is the fight being held?
The bout will be in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Both teams flew into Saudi Arabia earlier this month to begin the build-up to the fight.
What’s at stake?
Most significantly, boxing will have an undisputed heavyweight champion for the first time since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas 25 years ago.
In an interview with Telegraph Sport, Lewis discussed why there wasn’t much trash language in his day and why it has taken so long to bring back an uncontested matchup.
The WBC title is currently held by Fury, who defeated Deontay Wilder in 2020 to win it. Three times, he has successfully defended that title against Wilder, Dillian Whyte, and most recently, Derek Chisora.
After defeating Anthony Joshua in 2021, Usyk has gone on to win the heavyweight titles in the WBA, IBF, and WBO. Twice, in a rematch with Anthony Joshua and most recently against Daniel Dubois, he successfully defended those crowns.
Thus far in their professional boxing careers, Fury and Usyk have both gone undefeated. In the four-belt era, the victor will become the first heavyweight champion to go undefeated.
For what reason was the fight postponed?
The planned February date of the fight was rescheduled after Fury was cut above the eye during sparring by Agron Smakici’s elbow.
Smakici maintains that the cut was accidental, despite leaked video from their sparring session appearing to indicate that an elbow caused it. “I know I delivered a clean blow when you saw it, but the way he gripped my head, it seemed like he was pushing it toward him. That could be the reason the elbow also poked through. But first of all, it was a punch. It was an odd mishap.
Usyk: Ukraine will benefit from my triumph.
If Usyk prevails, he says it might be his last fight in this division. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion added, “Maybe I will go back to cruiserweight and win.”
“I feel amazing, just like I did during the 2012 Olympic Games.” Just as youthful, vibrant, and driven to succeed,” he continued. “This is the most significant battle of my professional career, athletic career, and athletic life. I wish to declare that the Ukrainian people as a whole has triumphed through me. Moreover, failure is personal.
Fury has explained why he wants the belts to be united.
He declared, “I’m going in there to get paid, get laid, and then I’m going to come back to Morecambe Bay.” “Since I don’t need anything, I probably won’t even buy anything. I’ll visit the store and do some shopping, though I’ll probably spend less than I did today. I’ll perform precisely the same in the rematch, get paid, get laid, return home to Morecambe Bay, and continue to not purchase anything.
Regarding his strategy, Fury made it clear that his goal is to use his strength and stature to subdue the smaller man. “My goal is to completely destroy him,” he declared. “All I want to do is defeat the dumb sausage.” Yes, Usyk is quick and skilled; he even twice outboxed a formidable heavyweight in Anthony Joshua, but AJ is uninteresting and slow; I could outbox him if I were wearing a blindfold. I simply am not the same.