RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Tyson Fury danced and sang along to a few of his preferred hits throughout a light exercise Wednesday night, 3 days out of his indisputable heavyweight champion clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
England’s Fury, 35, covered his hands to the tune of AC/DC’s anthem “You Shook Me All Night Long.” He moved around the ring with fitness instructor SugarHill Steward and pumped his ideal fist to the beat of The Killer’s “Mr. Brightside.”
“I’m having a good time. I constantly do, do not I?” Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) informed ESPN following his 15-minute exercise at the al fresco home entertainment center Boulevard City. “All these fight weeks I delight in.”
But Saturday’s fight is a bit more unique. The winner will be crowned boxing’s very first indisputable heavyweight champ given that November 1999, when Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in a rematch.
Lewis, who will be ringside Saturday, and Holyfield, are 2 all-time greats, therefore are Fury and Usyk. It’s uncommon for any heavyweight to be acknowledged as one of the pound-for-pound finest worldwide. Usyk is No. 3 on ESPN’s list, and Fury is No. 10.
“It’s the fight of the century,” stated Fury, who suffered a cut in sparring that delayed this bout from its initial Feb. 17 date. “[An undisputed heavyweight championship fight] has actually never ever occurred this century previously, and we’re eagerly anticipating placing on a great program.”
Fury’s resume functions a traditional trilogy with Deontay Wilder that consists of 2 wins and one draw, with the last bout called ESPN’s Fight of the Year and KO of the Year in 2021. Fury has actually been boxing’s lineal heavyweight champ given that he distressed Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Now, Fury will fulfill another Ukrainian in Usyk, who like Holyfield, is a previous indisputable cruiserweight champ who went on to win the merged heavyweight champion. Usyk, 37, did so by beating Anthony Joshua in a set of bouts, ruining prepare for a Fury-Joshua bout that would have represented the greatest fight in U.K. history.
Fury still intends to fulfill Joshua next year however will initially look towards a contracted rematch with Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) later on this year. Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, informed ESPN last month the return bout is slated for Oct. 12 or 13. After that, if Fury wins a minimum of among the 2 bouts, there are prepare for a match with Joshua next year.
Joshua, the previous unified champ, scored a second-round KO of previous UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in March. Fury was floored by Ngannou in October in a stunning efficiency, having a hard time to win a split choice against a guy making his boxing launching.
Fury appeared well out of shape for that non-title bout, however on Wednesday, he appeared to be much more in shape, pumping his jab while he bounced on his toes.
“I’m constantly focused, up for a fight,” Fury stated, “and it’s the factor I’ve been unbeaten in 16 years.”
But he has actually never ever dealt with a fighter rather like Usyk, one with an outstanding southpaw jab, exceptional footwork and the ring acumen to match Fury. Usyk might yield as much as 40 pounds on fight night. However, he has actually shown in 4 heavyweight bouts that he can conquer his absence of size with remarkable boxing capability.
Fury is the small favorite at -120, according to ESPN BET, while Usyk is at even odds. If Fury can end Usyk’s unbeaten run and get his 3 titles, too, he ought to seal himself as the very best heavyweight of his period.
“I’m not actually thinking about all that,” Fury stated as he strolled off from the ring. “[It will] develop me as a mega, uber-rich heavyweight who can feed his household and provide whatever they desire for breakfast, supper and tea.”
