‘Forget his belts. I’m going after his heart, he’ll get it tomorrow,’ threatened Fury in a brief fight with Usyk.
Tyson Fury pushed and swore at Oleksandr Usyk at the weigh-in as the build-up to their historic undisputed heavyweight clash came to life.
A shirtless Fury glared at the Ukrainian and angrily shoved him, sparking a brief scuffle on stage, before launching a string of expletives at his opponent on Friday.
“We’re ready to rock and roll, so fireworks tomorrow night. I’m going to knock him out,” the 35-year-old Brit raged, drawing applause from the crowd.
“I’m coming for his heart, that’s what I’m coming for. (Forget) his belts. I’m going after his heart, he’ll get it tomorrow, shine!
Fury weighed in at 262 pounds (118.8 kilograms), more than 15 pounds lighter than his last outing, while Usyk weighed in at 233.5 pounds, significantly heavier than his usual 221 pounds.
Ukraine’s Usyk, when asked what he had said to Fury, replied: “Don’t be afraid, I won’t leave you tomorrow.”
He said he managed to stay calm “because that’s my plan. If I’m nervous, I won’t win.”
‘The fight we’ve been waiting for’
On Saturday, the two undefeated fighters will compete in the first undisputed heavyweight clash since 1999, looking to win all four major belts.
Promoter Frank Warren called it “the most important fight of the 21st century.”
“It’s the fight we’ve been waiting for – the two best heavyweights in the world, both undefeated,” he said on the sweltering Thursday night.
“This is something special. Fights like this happen once in a generation.”
Opinion is divided on the outcome, with some leaning towards the slender and cunning “Gypsy King” Fury and others supporting Usyk’s supreme skills and aptitude.
“Tyson Fury should win on points,” Lewis told the BBC. “The bigger guy has longer arms, great movement.”
However, Tony Bellew, Usyk’s latest victim at cruiserweight, warned: “He is the purest and best boxer Fury has ever faced in his life.”
“The guy is on another platform. There are boxers and also Usyk,” Bellew added.
The final build-up was explosive at times, including when Fury’s father head-butted a member of Usyk’s entourage and was seen with blood running down his face.
However, both fighters were glum during their final press conference on Thursday, with Fury promising to pray for Usyk and the Ukrainian scribbling a poem.
Fury tipped the scales at 277.7 pounds against MMA convert Francis Ngannou in October, when he looked sluggish and was taken down before winning a split decision.
The “Gypsy King” weighed in at 247 pounds in his biggest win to date, defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. His lightest career weight was 245.5 pounds to Vinny Maddalone in 2012.
Usyk, a former cruiserweight, had previously been remarkably consistent during his heavyweight career, weighing in at 221 pounds in his 2021 and 2022 victories over Anthony Joshua and 220 pounds against Daniel Dubois last year.
Stories of his training are legendary, including swimming 10 kilometers (six miles), freediving for more than four minutes, juggling and catching six coins at once to demonstrate his reflexes.
With little to choose between them, it’s up to whoever can stay smart and adapt throughout the 12 scheduled rounds.
We have a fight
Weight: 233.5 pounds
Fury: 262 poundsUndisputed Heavyweight Championship
Who wins and how? #Boxing #Boxing #WBA #WBABoxing #FuryUsyk #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/32SqkrLUhH
– WBA Boxing (@WBABoxing) May 17, 2024
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
