Tyson Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk for undisputed heavyweight crown on February 17
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk face off during the press conference to announce their mega fight on Feb 17.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Tyson Fury vowed to deliver a “fight for the ages” as his historic clash with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title was confirmed for Feb 17 in Saudi Arabia.
The Briton will put his WBC (World Boxing Council) belt on the line, with the WBA (World Boxing Association), IBF (International Boxing Federation) and WBO (World Boxing Organisation) titles held by Ukraine’s Usyk up for grabs. The winner in Riyadh will be crowned the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis from 1999 to 2000.
“This is a historic event. The whole world of boxing has been waiting for many, many years, and they now have this fight. For the first time this century, we will have an undisputed heavyweight champion,” Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said at a press conference in London on Nov 16.
In typically combative mood at the press conference, Fury, 35, referenced his 2015 victory over Usyk’s fellow Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, which earned him the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
“I already relieved one Ukrainian of all the belts, and now I’m going to take them all back. Usyk’s a champion, I’m a champion. It’s going to be a fight for the ages,” he said. He also believes a victory over Usyk would cement his status as one of the all-time greats.
“He’s a good boxer, slick. But I’ve seen people like him before, and when they fight the big man, they lose. I’m going to bust him up. You know what’s coming? You’re getting smashed to pieces. You’re fighting the best British heavyweight there’s ever been,” he said.
“It’s been 24 years since we’ve had an undisputed champion. I’m destined to become the undisputed champion, and more than that, cement my legacy as the No. 1 fighter of this era.”
Usyk is aiming to emulate Evander Holyfield by becoming undisputed heavyweight champion, having already conquered the cruiserweight division.
He kept his cool amid Fury’s insults, which included calling him an “ugly little man” and labelling him a “rabbit” and a “sausage”.
“Yes I’m a little man. I’ll speak in the ring,” he said.
“Every time Tyson Fury speaks a lot. For me it doesn’t matter.”
Fury, who has 34 wins with one draw, has held the WBC belt since he defeated Deontay Wilder in 2020 and has retained the title three times.
Usyk, who has won all 21 of his fights, has been the WBA, IBF and WBO title holder since defeating Anthony Joshua in 2021. The Ukrainian has retained his titles twice, defeating Joshua by split decision in Saudi Arabia in 2022 and knocking out Daniel Dubois in August. AFP, REUTERS
