By Shaun Murphy-
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have officially signed contracts to face off for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. While an exact date for the bout remains unconfirmed, speculation suggests it could take place on December 23 or in January
This clash promises to be one of the most significant moments in boxing, ending a two-decade wait for a unified heavyweight champion.
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For boxing enthusiasts, the news of this bout is met with a sense of relief, as the sport’s premier division has been lacking a unified champion since Lennox Lewis held all the belts in 1999.
However, it is not without its controversies, as the fight is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about the sport’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing strategy.
The road to this monumental showdown has been marked by twists and turns. Speculation and discussions had arisen regarding Fury’s reluctance to face Usyk, leading many to believe he was avoiding the Ukrainian fighter. Fury had even hinted at the possibility of taking on mixed martial artists instead of legitimate boxers.
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However, that narrative took a sudden turn when Fury announced on Friday that he would defend his WBC title against Usyk, who currently holds the IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight belts.
Fury made his announcement in his characteristically bold style, sharing on Instagram: “I do what I say. I say what I do. Undisputed. This is the Gypsy King era. You can’t rabbit run anymore Usyk – you’re getting it. Thank you to the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia].”
Frank Warren, Fury’s British promoter, expressed his delight at the development, calling it “the biggest fight that could possibly be made in our sport.” The heavyweight division has always captivated fans, and this contest is expected to be the pinnacle of boxing events in the current century.
Alex Krassyuk, who promotes Oleksandr Usyk, echoed the sentiments of many who had doubted whether this fight would ever come to fruition: “I can’t believe it’s happening but it is. Gratitude to the KSA for making it happen, respect to Tyson for his courage and thank the Lord for all he gives us.”
Clash Of Unbeaten Champions
Tyson Fury boasts an unbeaten record with 34 wins, while Oleksandr Usyk has triumphed in all 21 of his professional fights. The clash between these two giants of the boxing world promises to be a historic moment for the sport, with the winner crowned as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
However, Fury’s upcoming bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Scheduled for October 28, this non-title match-up against an opponent with no prior boxing experience raises questions about Fury’s focus and the potential for injury ahead of the Usyk fight.
As boxing fans eagerly await further details about the date and location of the Fury-Usyk showdown, it is clear that this bout has the potential to redefine the heavyweight division and create a new era of boxing dominance.
Only 24 hours ago, Fury appeared to dismiss the possibility of future bouts with Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua, suggesting that they no longer hold any appeal for him.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand, when asked about a potential showdown with Anthony Joshua, Fury expressed his waning interest in the fight, citing Joshua’s loss of his unbeaten record to Andy Ruiz Jr and subsequent loss of his titles to Usyk.
Fury also said that Joshua no longer had anything to offer in terms of competition, saying, “AJ’s been beat now. I was interested when he was a virgin when he was a test.”
Fury’s comments raised questions about his willingness to pursue legacy-defining fights in favor of financial gain.
He made it clear that he prioritizes “big fights, most money, most glamour,” which, in his view, led to his decision to fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
He commented, “No matter what people say ‘it’s about the belts, it’s about my record, my legacy,’ no, it’s all about getting paid and getting laid and that’s it.”
Fury added : ‘Why on earth would I want to fight him for no money? He’s got zero personality, he’s an ugly b******, gappy teeth and he’s half the size of me. So it’s all to gain for him and nothing to gain for me.
‘If I beat him it’s like “oh you beat a middleweight”. If he beats me, he beats the legendary Tyson Fury for no money.
Many boxing fans had come to the conclusion that unbeaten Fury was avoiding Usyk who has extended his world title domination in the cruiserweights to the heavyweight division, having won all his fights with the big boys.
A delighted promoter Frank Warren said: ‘This is the biggest fight that could possibly be made in our sport.
‘The heavyweights always spark the imagination of the fans, and I have no doubt this will be the biggest boxing event of the century.
‘I look forward to Tyson reclaiming the three belts that he never lost in the ring.’
Fury’s American co-promoter Bob Arum added: “Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are the two greatest heavyweights of their generation, and I can’t wait to see what happens when they step into the ring in Riyadh.
“They are special talents worthy of competing for the greatest prize in sports.”
Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk, meanwhile, tried to explain his delight at the magnitude of the fight.
“Difficult to express my admiration for being part of the biggest heavyweight fight of the century. Respect to Tyson for his courage and thank the Lord for all he gives us.”
Usyk last defeated Britain’s Daniel Dubois in August in a nine round stoppage that led to protest from Dubois’s team who appealed for a no contest to be ordered regarding the bout over a contested low blow in the fifth round after the unbeaten talented Ukranian was granted four minutes to recover.
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