After Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk finally met in the ring this weekend, boxing is set to have its first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly a quarter of a century.
These are the two best fighters from a strong era of heavyweight boxing. Both reached their 30s still undefeated and are determined to reach the pinnacle of their careers by winning every major belt in their division – a feat that hasn’t been achieved since Lennox Lewis did it in 1999.
“Not only will we crown the undisputed heavyweight champion, but both participants in the fight have never, ever lost a fight,” said promoter Bob Arum. “Now, how rare is that?”
Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) has held three of the world’s major titles over nearly three years, while Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) holds the fourth after a career in which he has used all four championship belts on points many different.
They’ve been circling a winner-takes-all meeting for years – and after false starts, detours and delays, they’re finally together for a fight that will run until Sunday morning in Saudi Arabia to reach a Western audience on Saturday.
“I’m ready for a good fight,” Fury said. “And whether it’s hard or easy, either way, I’ll be ready.”
The last heavyweight to hold all four major belts was Lewis, who beat Evander Holyfield in 1999 by unanimous decision in Las Vegas. His undisputed reign only lasted about six months, thanks to one of the endless territorial disputes seemingly created whenever sanctioning bodies are involved.
The current monumental moment in boxing history is taking place in Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, and this is no coincidence: oil-rich Saudi Arabia is spending huge amounts of money to stage the world’s biggest fights, crushing the typical grudges and disputes territorial relations between elite boxers and their territories. promoters.
The camps of these fighters have been at odds for years – Fury’s father head-butted a member of Usyk’s entourage on Monday, leaving John Fury with blood running down his face – but the money has made their hard feelings disappear. Fury could reportedly earn $100 million or more from this fight, and a lucrative rematch is highly likely in the fall.
The fight was postponed twice after Fury said he needed more time following his embarrassing performance against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Fury barely managed a split decision to beat a mixed martial artist competing in his first professional boxing fight, and the effort has fueled speculation about whether Fury is finally going downhill.
The 6-foot-4 Fury never possessed a classic boxer’s physique, but he looked excessively pudgy when he fought Ngannou, and most observers linked his poor conditioning to a general lack of fight preparation.
But Fury turned up in Saudi Arabia to find Usyk looking noticeably thinner, and now some are wondering whether he overdid it – whether he will have the bulk to withstand Usyk’s body work while maintaining the strength to respond with powerful punches of his own.
Fury simply laughs off the speculation, trusting in his own training and strength to overcome any challenge, no matter his waist size.
“(Forget) his belts,” Fury said. “I’m going for his heart. That’s what I’m coming for.”
This is a fascinating tactical fight: the 6-foot-2 Usyk is smaller than Fury, but the Ukrainian’s work rate and high-level skill have proven insurmountable to almost all of his opponents. Usyk appears to be putting pressure on Fury in an attempt to get into the Brit’s superior wingspan, while Fury will likely use every trick and stratagem in his huge inventory to keep Usyk off balance and frustrated.
Both fighters have knockout power, but both are obviously durable. Fury is motivated to atone for his latest performance, while Usyk has the chance to complete his impressive rise from cruiserweight stardom to heavyweight supremacy.
“I’m excited,” Usyk said. “Let’s make history!”
___
AP Boxing:
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
