Tyson Fury’s classless judge claim an insult to dazzling Oleksandr Usyk
Stunned by the remorseless brilliance of Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury lost more than his unbeaten record on this brutal night of reckoning. He also forfeited any right to be called a gracious loser with his classless claim that the judges had only awarded the Ukrainian victory because his country was at war (vote here if you agree). It was a gross insult to the courage of his opponent, who brought the reign of the Gypsy King to a shuddering close with a bravura display, channelling the pain of a shattered nation to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Fury, by contrast, ended his evening looking like a clown. How he had mocked Usyk, jinking his head from side to side in the corner and gurning to the crowd. If this was supposed to be his imitation of Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope, it did not work. Usyk simply studied this play-acting with contempt, weathering the worst that Fury could throw at him – including one fearsome sixth-round upper cut that contributed to a broken jaw – before dominating the second half of the fight.
“I believe I won,” boasted Fury, unable to compute defeat to a man on whom he had six inches’ advantage in height and seven in reach. Craig Metcalfe, the judge who scored the bout 114-113 in his favour to ensure a split decision, was about the only person in the Kingdom Arena who agreed with him. Usyk fully deserved this triumph, his superiority never more vivid than during an unforgettable ninth round, where he pummelled Fury with a ferocity that caused his legs to crumple. He was given a standing count, saved only by the ropes and the bell.
Usyk had made it clear that the Russian invasion of his country, now in its third year, would provide a motivation that no adversary could match. And so it proved, with his focus so unrelenting that he denied Fury any hope of a late resurrection. It was deeply moving to see him hoist Ukraine’s aloft at the end, and to watch his embrace with Wladimir Klitschko. His connection to the war is profound: he gives money to volunteers in the regions under greatest threat, and he texts frontline soldiers who regard him as emblematic of their struggle.
Even the stuffed toy donkey that he brought into the building was a nod to the conflict, with his daughter Yelizaveta having handed it to him when he was forced by the fighting to train abroad. Fortified by gestures large and small, Usyk unleashed a maelstrom to which Fury had no answer. The only response was that baseless accusation in a TV interview that Usyk had been given preferential treatment out of sympathy for Ukraine’s plight. Except this result was not born of bloc voting, Eurovision-style. It was a reflection only of a stunning performance.
Usyk might be dwarfed by Fury, but in word and deed he so often comes across as the bigger man. All week Fury had goaded him, threatening to “knock this little f----- spark out”. He was at it again even as Usyk toasted victory, patronising him as a “good little man”. But it was Fury who appeared small, first failing to back up his crass pre-fight taunts and then devaluing the fulfilment of Usyk’s noble quest by alleging, baselessly, that the officials had shown pity.
Never once did Usyk, having paraded on his ringwalk in vibrant Cossack warrior regalia, look deterred. He announced his intent by striking with three clinical left hands, a tactic that drew familiar play-acting from Fury, who preened and postured, absorbing the unexpected bombardment and taunting Usyk to take greater risks. The problem was that Usyk barely seemed perturbed, continuing to come forward. His sheer technical proficiency shone through as he created unexpected angles and dazzled with his speed. Fury’s reaction? To tease, to torment, even to raise his hands and ask for more.
After three frantic rounds, Fury settled on the tactic of aiming squarely for Usyk’s midriff. It was a canny ploy: after all, Usyk had called a low blow against Britain’s Daniel Dubois last year before being allowed almost four minutes by the referee to recover. Fury was steadily gaining in confidence, and at halfway the damage began to tell. With one savage upper cut, he knocked Usyk back on his feet. It was perhaps the most this indomitable fighter had been hurt in his career, and Fury sensed blood, wagging his tongue mischievously at the audience as the bell tolled.
Hubris was to be his downfall. Under the impression that he was building an unassailable points lead, Fury let his concentration slip, his movement turning leaden. Alarmingly, a cut was developing beside his eye – an area that had required more than 60 stitches in previous years – as his head grew smeared with blood.
Remarkably, Usyk was discovering an extra gear, confirmed with two quickfire left hooks that rocked Fury back on his feet. In the ninth, he exploded, detonating a truly stunning barrage, with one lethal left causing Fury to slump back on the ropes for support. Usyk pounced with a series of concussive blows that left Fury haggard, exhausted, bewildered. With his legs having all but given way, it was all he could do to last the 12 rounds.
He announced that he would be activating a rematch clause later this year in an effort to salvage lost pride. But it felt as if this fight had shaken more than Fury’s conception of himself. He had blustered beforehand that, of the estimated 117 million members of the human species ever born on Earth, nobody could beat him. Usyk could, though, laying bare not just the vacuity of Fury’s bombast but the inability to take a loss with humility.
He produced both a boxing masterclass and an object lesson in how great heavyweights could still behave with decency and integrity. Undisputed: it was a label that sat comfortably on his shoulders. As for Fury, his circus-act excesses punished, the howls of injustice could hardly have rung more hollow.
Usyk shocks Fury: As it happened . . .
01:06 AM BST
Lennox Lewis - ‘Fury was boxing like he won the fight’
Fury was boxing like he won the fight. No boxer can judge and say they won the fight. For me, everytime a round was close they should look at it like a loss.
12:58 AM BST
Usyk with the belts
12:51 AM BST
Gareth A Davies’ verdict - Usyk deserved it
12:50 AM BST
Usyk speaks: ‘It’s a great day for me and my country’
“Thank you so much, my God, Jesus. Mister Excellency, thank you. It’s big opportunity for me, for my family, for my country. It’s a great day for me and a great day for my country, Slava Ukraine.”
12:46 AM BST
Fury: ‘I believe I won that fight..we’ll come back in October’
“I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won majority of them. And I believe it was – what can you do? – one of them decisions in boxing.
“We’ve both put on a good fight. Best we could do. And, you know, his country’s at war. So people are siding with a country at war. But make no mistake, I’ve won that fight in my opinion, and I’ll be back. We’ve got a rematch clause.
“You know, I thank Jesus for all the victories he’s given me. I’ve dropped a split decision to the good little man, and I thank him again in the mighty name of Jesus. We go back home to our families and we’ll run it back in October.”
12:39 AM BST
The Ukrainian wins with a split decision
And is the new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world!
12:37 AM BST
USYK WINS!
115-112 Usyk
114-113 Fury
114- 113 Usyk
12:36 AM BST
Waiting for the judges’ scores, while we wait...
Gareth A Davies’ final score - 114-113 in favour of Usyk
We will see shortly whether he’s right
12:35 AM BST
So close...
Round Eleven
Usyk 10-9
Two battle hardened warriors giving their all in championship rounds
Usyk by dint of a few punches in a very close round
Round Twelve
Fury 10-9
Fury starts strong. The Briton’s head snapped back by a left. Big right from Fury
Fury... just...
12:33 AM BST
Round Twelve: It’s gone the distance, down to the judges now...
It all comes down to this, it’s a one-round bout now...
Usyk is known as a good closer and again has Fury on the ropes as he lands a good left. But the Briton comes back well, Usyk tries an overhand left, he’s had a lot of joy with the left and he nearly catches Fury with another. The Briton responds with a right of his own. This has been a fine fight...
A right hand from Fury hurts Usyk but the Briton doesn’t follow it up...Thirty seconds left and they are both throwing punches, few land.
It’s over with Fury still showboating.
They will have earned each other’s respect there - what a fight. It ebbed and flowed brilliantly.
The pair hug in the ring.
12:29 AM BST
Round Eleven: Two tired fighters out there now
Is this bout destined to be a draw? It’s anyone’s guess but both are looking tired out there at the moment. Fury catches Usyk with a good body punch but fewer punches are landing now, the energy levels have, understandably, dropped. Whatever happens Fury has shown grit as the round ends with another good left from the Ukrainian.
Who would want to be a judge at the moment?
12:26 AM BST
Round Ten: Good powers of recovery from Fury
You think Uysk has to go on the attack again and try win it this round. The Ukrainian is on the attack with Fury against the ropes not landing anything. It’s all Usyk, but it’s less frantic than the ninth round and that’s helping Fury who is still well in this bout, having ridden out the storm, great powers of recovery from the Briton.
Uysk is again on the attack who is landing punches aplenty. Better from Fury but still Uysk’s round.
Round Nine
Usyk 10-8
Fury bleeding left eye cut. Great lefts Usyk. Great attack - Fury out on his feet. Barrage of 14 punches. Such drama.
Round Ten
Usyk 10-9
Great recovery from Fury landed a powerful right but Usyk volume wins that round. Both fatigued...
12:21 AM BST
Round Nine: Fury really hurt as Uysk is on the attack
Great fight so far and Uysk has come back very well. He’s having a lot of success with the left, that was the punch that hurt Fury’s eye, but the Briton lands a strong body punch, this is intense stuff. Fury lands a big right but Uysk is then rattled by a huge left and Uysk is back-peddalling, he somehow stays on his feet but there’s nothing in the legs as the Ukrainian keeps coming forward. The Briton is ultimately saved by the bell. That opening left really shook up Fury and had it been in the middle of the ring he was on the canvas. Fury saved by the ropes and bell there...
Usyk 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 Fury on his way to glory 😱#FuryUsyk | #RingOfFire | #RiyadhSeason | @Turki_alalshikh | @usykaa pic.twitter.com/V0X50yCKv3
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 18, 2024
12:18 AM BST
Round Eight: Usyk’s round as he catches Fury’s left eye
Fury looks fresh out there but Usyk lands a nice shot, he’s far from beaten and is showing plenty of character, the good ending to the seventh seems to have spurred him on. The pair then exchange two good hits, Uysk has gone up a gear here with Fury now in the middle of the ring trying to push the Ukrainian back. Fury is caught by a good jab and Fury has to wipe his nose. Uysk is on the up and it looks as though Fury’s left eye is hurt, there’s blood on the Briton’s face and he doesn’t look so fresh now. Usyk’s round that...
Round Seven
Usyk 10-9
Fury landed some great shots but got greedy hands low...
Usyk had a great end to the round and landed the more telling punches
Round Eight
Usyk 10-9
Great comeback from Usyk. Squeezing the space. Usyk wins big exchange
Great comeback from the Ukrainian in last two rounds - great lefts
12:12 AM BST
Round Seven: Strong finish from Uysk, bout far from over
Fury has most probably won the past four rounds and Usyk needs to do something and soon. Uysk is caught by a right uppercut, not for the first time tonight...Fury then catches him with a good combination. But then the Ukrainian fights back and catches Fury with a couple of punches, strong finish from the Ukrainian. This bout is far from over.
12:08 AM BST
Round Six: Fury’s most-dominant round
Fury won that last round and you feel as though Usyk could do with some sort of statement this round...He’s again on the attack but not having much luck, he found the target in the opening rounds, but not so much these past three rounds.
A Fury right hand really hurts Usyk, that’s followed up with another and the Ukrainian is back-pedalling, chance for the Briton to end the fight with a minute left? Usyk is still on his feet but look shaken. Definitely Fury’s round without question.
Round Five
Fury 10-9
Fury starting to land long shots...Usyk still pressing but looking a tad fatigued
Round Six
Fury 10-9
Uppercut from Fury to the body. It creates stillness in Usyk. Fury going after Usyk now busting him up. Huge right from Fury. Goading and teasing Usyk
12:04 AM BST
Round Five: Fury is using his reach well
Fury hits Usyk with what looks like a low blow, the Ukrainian doesn’t look happy with that...Fury then follows up with a fine legitimate punch, another right jab to the body. Usyk is looking the tireder of the two...
Fury is using his reach well, we thought that might be key and so far it has indeed proved to be. The Briton is looking the stronger of the two, just...
12:00 AM BST
Round Four: Fury looking more comfortable as Usyk is on the attack
This fight is 50-50 but Fury is looking more comfortable the longer it goes on, continuing with the jab looking as though there’s a bit more meat in that right hand. Another nice left from the Ukrainian but Fury is then hits him on the temple with his own left and Usyk looks slightly hurt. Fury then gets in a good uppercut, he’s looking the better fighter in this round. But as I type that the Ukrainian is coming forward and taking him on and landing some shots. Another tight (ish) round but Fury looking calm.
Round Three
Fury 10-9
Both looking dangerous. Big body shot from Fury, Usyk felt that. Fury more aggressive but working from the outside.
Round Four
Fury 10-9
Fury switches southpaw Looks very confident
They clash heads Big uppercut Fury
But Fury just edges it... brilliant fight so far
Physical chess
11:56 PM BST
Round Three: Less frantic than the opening two rounds
Uysk is still being aggressive and is landing with those left handers, this round is less frantic than the first two, there’s a bit of hugging from Fury on the Ukrainian, trying to drain him of energy. Fury then lands a couple of jabs, good work from the Briton but as I type that Usyk comes back. Another tight round.
11:52 PM BST
Round Two: Fury getting in the ones and twos
Usyk picks up where he left off the first round as he goes on the attack and lands with a couple of good punches. Fury has only landed the jab do far, the Ukrainian is looking sharper at the moment...but early days. Fury lands with a good right and he’s getting in the ones and twos but Usyk isn’t fazed and continues to come forward. The Ukrainian is landing with the left and that was another entertaining, closely fought round.
Round One
Usyk 10-9
Great pressure from Usyk working to the body - fast start Creating great angles
Very fast start
Round Two
Fury 10-9
Big right left Usyk put Fury on ropes Fury comes back strongly
Three body shots landed by the Gypsy King. He grins. Usyk felt those
11:47 PM BST
Round One: Big overhand left from Usyk as Fury uses the jab
They’re underway in Riyadh, Fury in dark green shorts and Usyk in white, yellow and blue shorts. Fury comes out and dominates the centre of the ring early on, but the Ukrainian then replaces him and Fury is out, as expected, with the jab, that will be crucial tonight. They are both targeting the body, no fireworks in the first 90 seconds. Usyk looks so much smaller in there, but he looks calm in there as he gets in a couple of jabs to Fury’s stomach. The Briton then mocks him and smiles at the crowd as he’s stuck in the corner. The rounds ends with a big overhand left from Usyk who then goes on the attack. The Ukrainian with the first meaningful punch of the bout. It was a tight round however. The round ends with a bit of showboating from Fury...
11:41 PM BST
‘Let’s get ready to RUMMMMMBBLLLE’
Buffer has uttered his trademark line and we’re moments away from the opening bell.
11:38 PM BST
Michael Buffer
As you’d expect is in charge of pre-fight announcement duty...
11:36 PM BST
National anthem time
The Ukrainian anthem is followed by God Save the King...
11:34 PM BST
Now time for Tyson Fury
The Briton comes out to the sound of Barry White’s You Are The First, the Last, my Everything, good tune. He’s beaten in the outfit stakes, though, deciding to just come out in a backwards baseball cap and dark-green sleeveless jacket. The music changes to Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero, retro...
He looks so relaxed, as though he’s just off for a sparring session at the local gym...
11:30 PM BST
Time for the ring walks
Uysk is out first and he’s wearing a fur hat and a green military-looking long coat, he looks like an updated Cossack. He’s now in the ring and still got that hat on, must be hot...Hollywood actor Liev Schreiber is with him for some reason...
11:22 PM BST
Now there is some live music
Not sure why we need this when surely the first undisputed heavyweight title fight for 25 years is entertainment enough...will sporting bodies/organisers ever learn?
11:19 PM BST
The Saudi Arabian national anthem is being played
It’s a short number dominated by trumpets, not bad...
11:14 PM BST
The Dazn presenters
Are teeing up the ring walks and saying that more fans at Kingdom Arena are backing Fury:
“This is like a home fight for Tyson Fury.”
11:05 PM BST
Not long to go now
Here, once again, are the pre-fight thoughts of Gareth A Davies.
10:58 PM BST
Jai Opetaia has beaten Mairis Briedis by unanimous decision
Briedis came back into the bout in the final few rounds, but it was too little too late as the Australian won the backing of all the judges.
10:55 PM BST
Ronaldo now has Neymar for company
Ronaldo 🤝 Neymar
Was that a Tyson Fury pick there at the end by Neymar? 👀
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/iYZrPGk3K9— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
10:52 PM BST
Fury is nearly ready
The Briton is getting his hands taped up ahead of the biggest fight this century.
10:42 PM BST
Opetaia up to heavyweight? David Haye thinks so....
Jai Opetaia dominating every round here. Really is a brilliant, talented cruiserweight. No 1 in division for me by a long way. David Haye sitting near me and I just asked him if Opetaia can win a world title at heavyweight ?
We watched the next round together.
“Yep he’s good enough and he can do it...” responded the man who won world titles in two divisions. But would Jai have beaten you DH ? “It would have been a very tough night.”
10:39 PM BST
In the penultimate fight of the night
It’s been all one-way traffic from Jai Opetaia as he takes on Mairis Briedis for a second time in the cruiserweight division. Briedis has blood flowing from his nose and the Australian is easily ahead in scoring. Opetaia is one to watch out for in the future, one to move up to heavyweight, a la Usyk.
10:32 PM BST
Stevie G wishes Fury well
Stevie G goes into Tyson Fury's locker room to wish him well 🤝
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/NYDh1wZYkP— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
10:27 PM BST
Boxing summed up in one pic
It’s from Northern Irishman Anthony Cacache’s victory over Wales’s Joe Cordina earlier this evening.
What a picture by Mikey Williams of @trboxing pic.twitter.com/zWK8wIHBVh
— Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) May 18, 2024
10:24 PM BST
Who do the experts think will be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world?
It’s clear that there is little between the two fighters, you can make good arguments for both Fury and Usyk. But here are what the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua think will be lifting all the belts in Riyadh.
READ: Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk predictions: What boxing experts are saying about the fight
10:16 PM BST
Double impact
As one of Belgium’s most famous exports Jean-Claude Van Damme enters Kingdom Arena.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is here! 🐐@JCVD wasn't missing this one! 💯
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/pSY5H8yGMU— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
09:59 PM BST
No awkward seating arrangements this time for Ronaldo
He is sitting next to Anthony Joshua, unlike last time when he had the misfortune to be plonked next to Conor McGregor.
READ: Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo spared another Conor McGregor meeting as he sits with Anthony Joshua
09:55 PM BST
“It will be an amazing spectacle with everything to play for.”
Here are the pre-fight thoughts of Gareth A Davies who is ringside in Riyadh.
09:46 PM BST
Cordina has just been beaten by Cacache
The fight was stopped in the eighth. Wales’ Cordina earlier was knocked down, but got up. Alas he couldn’t live with the Northern Irishman’s power and the ref had to step in to end the bout.
As predicted, an amazing new super-featherweight champion in Cacace. Sustained pressure after round four. So well deserved.
09:25 PM BST
Wales’ Joe Cordina is in the ring facing Anthony Cacache
In this IBF super-featherweight contest, and it’s not going well, so far..
Been saying all week that Joe Cordina looked very very tight at the weight. Anthony ‘The Apache’ Cacache has looked in great physical shape conversely and my hunch was that Cordina may struggle. Torrid third round for the Welshman. The Apache will not let him off... body shots coming.
09:21 PM BST
Agit Kabayel, future contender?
Very impressed by Agit Kabayel. Huge victory over Frank Sanchez. He’s definitely a future world-title contender.
09:15 PM BST
A fight well worth the hype
Here’s Gareth A Davies’s take on the first undisputed heavyweight title flight for a quarter of a century.
There are sub-plots aplenty to this fight. Like Fury’s cut eye which he sustained in sparring just under two months ago, and how he may be affected by that. How much sparring the 35-year-old will have been able to get involved in for the last seven weeks is one talking point; conversely, so too the fact that Usyk has completed back to back to back training camps due to the postponement of the contest twice, and that he may have been worn down mentally by the wait. All important in these contests.
READ: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will be a fight for the ages
08:57 PM BST
‘I like him with a bit of weight on him’
That’s Lennox Lewis on Tyson Fury, questioning the Briton’s decision to come into this fight leaner than usual.
08:55 PM BST
Cristiano and AJ chew the fat
The poster boy for Saudi football has arrived and plonked himself next to Joshua. He’s gone for a relaxed look, wearing shorts. It’s a smart-summery look...
08:45 PM BST
Agit Kabayel impresses once again
Heavyweight Agit Kabayel has just defeated Cuban boxer Frank Sanchez. The German knocked out the Cuban in the seventh round and Kabayel, who remains undefeated, was impressive from the start. Many pundits felt this was a 50-50 fight but it was, on the basis of what we’ve just seen, more 90-10.
08:38 PM BST
There was a little hors d’oeuvrs ahead of tonight’s fight...
...at the weigh-in. More handbags than heavy punches, however...
08:29 PM BST
Tyson Fury has now arrived at Kingdom Arena
He’s looking very dapper, wearing a white and gold suit, a wide-brimmed hat and shades...he, like Usyk, doesn’t look worried/stressed/intense at all.
The Gypsy King ARRIVES 💪#FuryUsyk | Live NOW on DAZN! Click link in bio to buy.#RingOfFire | #RiyadhSeason | @Turki_alalshikh | @Tyson_Fury pic.twitter.com/OCZ29tVKax
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 18, 2024
08:22 PM BST
Wonder what Joshua is thinking...
He’s ringside watching the undercard fights.
08:18 PM BST
Oleksandr Usyk
Has arrived at Kingdom Arena, he’s looking relaxed. All things being well we’re about two hours 45 minutes (ish) away from the ring walks...
The significance of the Eeyore toy he’s carrying? He had it at the Anthony Joshua fight and said: “It’s my daughter’s. She gave it to me to be my talisman and said, ‘This needs to be right next to you.’ It is always close to me.”
USYK HAS ARRIVED! 🇺🇦
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/C5Ohbj0jBW— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
07:59 PM BST
AJ is in town
Man of the people @anthonyjoshua taking time to take some pics with fans as he makes his way to the arena 📸
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/GuLdzkz82O— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
07:54 PM BST
Mighty Moses could have a bright future
I have named Moses Itauma ‘The Takeover’. This kid – 19 years old – is super talented and may well be the future of the heavyweight division. I have spent some time with him in the Hilton Hotel here this week and I have begun documenting his life. I have also chatted to his father and his brothers this week. Learning of him running out of school, aged 15, to spar with Joe Joyce makes the mind boggle. After nine fights – and the Kent kid was meant to win tonight – he is so level headed and very mature. Fact he’s a southpaw also gives Moses huge advantages. Another victory, and back out in early June.
07:49 PM BST
Another quick fight on the undercard
This time heavyweight Moses Itauma made light work of Ilja Mezencev. The hot British prospect knocked out his opponent in the second round. He’s been on record saying he wants to be the youngest heavyweight champion ever and this impressive win does that target no harm at all.
07:39 PM BST
How Fury and Usyk match up
Both Fury and Usyk into the fight with unbeaten records – the Ukrainian is 21-0 and the Briton has 34 wins and one draw on his CV. Something has to give here and we have analysed how each of the two world champions can make history at the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night.
Here’s how the two boxers bidding for history match up.
READ: Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: How the fighters match up
07:18 PM BST
Chamberlain underlines promise
The UK’s Mark Chamberlain has just knocked out Nigeria’s WBO Africa Super Featherweight champion Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab in the first round. It lasted all of two minutes 40 seconds and underlines his promise. Chamberlain is a favourite of Turki Alalshikh the influential Saudi who put together tonight, explaining why he was on tonight’s undercard.
07:09 PM BST
Safar edges Kovalev
Robin Sirwan Safar has just beaten Sergey Kovalev by unanimous points decision in their cruiserweight battle on the undercard. It’s fair to say that the best days of Kovalev, the man who once beat Bernard Hopkins, are well behind him.
06:53 PM BST
A lot of famous fighters from the past are in Riyadh tonight
And one of them is Roberto Duran wearing a watch that looks a bit more expensive than your average Swatch.
Boxing Royalty Roberto Duran has arrived and just check out that wrist piece 🔥
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/JDOFt9RHkJ— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
06:43 PM BST
Tyson Fury’s story
Nicely put together short film here...
My story. See you tonight ❤️pic.twitter.com/8b5WN4YSl1
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) May 18, 2024
06:34 PM BST
Fury can count on the support of...
...Steven Gerrard tonight. Think that’s more impressive than having Liev Schreiber fighting your corner...
Stevie G in the house and he's here to support Tyson Fury! 🤝
Buy #FuryUsyk LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office 👉 https://t.co/FXWiFF98Ej pic.twitter.com/1KBmJspv59— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2024
06:31 PM BST
Dazn are interviewing...
...American actor Liev Schreiber at the moment, not sure why...anyway the star of such hit films as The Painted Veil (good film, you should watch it...) and Scream 3 (not so good...) wants Usyk to win due to his Ukrainian ancestry, but thinks Fury might do it.
06:23 PM BST
Here’s the complete lowdown on the fight
From what the boxers are saying, to who is on the undercard, here’s everything you need to know about Fight Night in the Saudi Arabian capital.
READ: Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: When is today’s fight, how to watch and the undercard line-up
05:32 PM BST
Fury out to do ‘demolition job’ on Usyk
An undisputed heavyweight title fight is as rare as as a boxer not talking up his chances before going into the ring. There hasn’t been one this millennium and so, for once, tonight sees a bout well worth the considerable hype.
Not since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield 25 years ago have all the belts been up for grabs, and they’re not the only things on the line in Saudi Arabia.
Both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are undefeated in their professional boxing careers so far and the winner of the bout will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Fury holds the WBC belt, which he won in 2020 when he beat Deontay Wilder. He has defended that belt three times, against Wilder, Dillian Whyte and, most recently, Derek Chisora.
Usyk has held the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles since beating Anthony Joshua in 2021. He has defended those titles twice: in a rematch with Joshua and most recently against Daniel Dubois.
Fury is in no doubt as to what he’s going to do in Riyadh, saying he’s going to knock his Ukrainian opponent out.
“I’m looking to do a demolition job on him,” the Briton said. “I just want to beat the silly sausage. Yes, Usyk is fast, talented, he out-boxed a big heavyweight in Anthony Joshua twice but AJ is one-dimensional, one-paced, and I could outbox him with a blindfold on. I’m just different.”
For Usyk the magnitude of the fight is all too clear.
“It’s the most important fight of my career, my sports career and my sporting life. I want to say that my victory is the victory of the entire Ukrainian people. And defeat is personal,” the Ukrainian said.
“I was worried about Tyson Fury, that there might be injuries and that our fight might not take place,” he added. “If he was performing, I think he deserves an Oscar. It has to happen because we have a contract. It’s a problem only for Tyson Fury. He signed a contract, so he has to fight. It has been an incredible journey. I can do anything now.”
The ring walk is expected at about 11pm UK time, so stay here for all the build-up, the undercard and then boxing’s biggest bout in a generation.
