Tyson Fury speaks at a press conference before his fight with Francis Ngannou. Photo: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
The heavyweight bout boxing fans have long craved will finally happen when British fighter Tyson Fury meets Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed world crown in Saudi Arabia.< /p>
Fury's promoter Frank Warren said Friday afternoon that a deal for the fight had finally been struck. was agreed upon. However, the date for the competition, which will be held in Riyadh, has not yet been announced.
“This is the biggest fight that is possible in our sport,” Warren said. “Heavyweights always spark the imagination of fans and I have no doubt that this will be the biggest boxing event of the century.”
The long-awaited blockbuster unification fight between them never took place. line in the past: a previous attempt to meet at London's Wembley Stadium fell through due to recriminations on both sides.
Whoever wins the newly agreed fight will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. .
Fury's American promoter Bob Arum said: “Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are two of the greatest heavyweights of their generation and I can't wait to see what happens when they step into the ring in Riyadh. These are special talents worthy of fighting for the greatest prize in sport.»
The fight with Usyk will be Fury's second fight in the Kingdom, as the 35-year-old will take on the former UFC world champion. Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh on October 28. The Gypsy King's World Boxing Council belt will not be on the line.
Usyk, 36, will likely come into the fight with an unbeaten record, having scored a knockout win over Daniel Dubois in Poland last month. The Ukrainian defeated Londoner Dubois in the ninth round and retained the belts of the World Boxing Association, the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Organization.
Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshih, said: “This is the fight everyone has been wanting to see for a long time, and now it's finally happening — two world heavyweight champions stepping into the ring against each other. This is the greatest fight in boxing, the world will be watching and we are so proud to be the hosts of this spectacle.»
Meanwhile, Fury's manager Spencer Brown said: «I'm delighted that Tyson has the chance to become the first undisputed world champion in the heavyweight era of the four belts and prove that he is one of the greatest men of all time. However, first on October 28, Tyson will have a chance to prove that he is the worst person on the planet.
Analysis: Boxing fans finally got the fight they wanted
Undefeated Briton Fury has been the lineal heavyweight champion since the overthrow of Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, while Ukrainian Usyk, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, has moved up to heavyweight. occupies a leading position after dominating the fight for the undisputed heavyweight title.
In September 2021, Usyk upset Anthony Joshua to become the unified world heavyweight champion, and then defeated Joshua by split decision in a rematch of almost one year later.
Usyk returned in August to stop Daniel Dubois in nine rounds and now hopes to join Evander Holyfield as the only undisputed heavyweight champion to repeat that feat at heavyweight.
Fury's return from personal troubles has been extraordinary . After a controversial draw with Deontay Wilder in December 2018, Fury captured the WBC world title from Wilder with a seventh-round TKO in a rematch in February 2020.
Their trilogy ended with the 2021 Fight of the Year when Fury won with a pair of knockdowns and stopped Wilder in the 11th round.
Fury has been busy in 2022 with stoppage victories over Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora and is preparing to fight MMA superstar Francis Ngannou on October 28 in Riyadh.
Boxing fans finally have This is the era — the defining fight the heavyweight division needs, between two great undefeated fighters in their prime. Fury starts as the favourite, but Usyk's skill set will test the Briton in perhaps his toughest task to date.
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