tape story
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are scheduled to perform their ring walk around 2 a.m. local time (11 p.m. GMT, 6 p.m. ET). Here's how they rate ahead of tonight's main event. At yesterday's weigh-in at Kingdom Arena, Fury weighed in at a career-high 281 pounds, while Usyk tipped the scales at 226 pounds, a huge 55-pound difference. It will shrink slightly. Fury's 7-inch reach and 6-inch height advantage remain the biggest physical hurdles for Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion who exceeded all expectations in six fights at heavyweight.
The weigh-in prior to heavyweight bouts is almost entirely ceremonial, as it is the only weight class in which fighters are not obligated to meet contract pound limits. But Friday's proceedings were particularly interesting given how much each fighter's weight affected their performance in the first meeting. Our own Donald McRae was in the room.
It was widely expected that Fury would weigh even more in the rematch. But the size of the weight difference is still surprising, and the clearest indication that Fury intends to move on from Usyk, believing he can stop the former world cruiserweight champion through sheer physical ability, as he had promised all week. It shows. And the force that hits you.
Fury is 6 inches taller than Usyk. Carrying so much weight, he doesn't want to dance or move smoothly across the canvas. He will lean heavily on Usyk and try to drain his energy. And, of course, he will keep his feet firmly planted and try to break through the intelligent and intelligent Ukrainian defense with his aggression and power. Usyk is a great strategist and Fury clearly communicated what he was up against. The undefeated champion will never be intimidated in the ring and will prepare for Fury's onslaught to come.
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Weigh-ins ahead of heavyweight fights are almost entirely ceremonial affairs since it is the only weight class where fighters aren’t bound to meet a contracted pound limit. But Friday’s proceedings were of particular interest given the extent to which each man’s weight affected their performance in their first meeting. Our Donald McRae was in the room:
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It had been widely expected that Fury would come in much heavier for the rematch. But the extent of the weight disparity was still surprising and it offers the most graphic indication yet that Fury, as he has promised all week, will be intent on walking down Usyk in the belief that the former world cruiserweight champion can be stopped by sheer physicality and bludgeoning force.
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Fury is also six inches taller than Usyk. Carrying so much weight, he will not be looking to dance and move fluidly across the canvas. He will lean down heavily on Usyk, trying to drain him of energy – and of course he will plant his feet and, with aggression and power, look to blast his way through the defence of the brilliant and intelligent Ukrainian. Usyk is a master strategist and Fury has told him clearly what he is about to confront. The unbeaten champion is never intimidated in the ring and he will be ready for Fury’s coming onslaught.
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Hello and welcome to tonight’s heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. We’re back at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena seven months after Usyk toppled Fury to become the sport’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in a quarter-century. Will the 2012 Olympic and two-weight champion from Ukraine double down on his supremacy in boxing’s prestige division? Or will it be 2 Fury 2 Furious as the Gypsy King restores his place atop the heavyweight throne?
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Of the many well-documented reasons for boxing’s protracted retreat toward the periphery of the mainstream, the lack of clearly identifiable champions rates high on a competitive list. At one time the heavyweight championship of the world was the most prestigious title in sports, yet the lack of central authority has left us with four major sanctioning bodies that have generally created confusion among casual observers while devaluing the currency of a title.
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Usyk delivered that long-sought clarity in May when he won a razor-thin 12-round split decision to add Fury’s WBC title to the WBA, IBF and WBO straps he’d won from Anthony Joshua, making him the first boxer to hold all the major belts at the same time since Lennox Lewis.
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Because we can’t have nice things, tonight’s rematch is not for the undisputed title. That’s because Usyk generously vacated the IBF strap in June so it could add some juice to the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua show at Wembley in September. (Dubois won that fight and the belt by fifth-round knockout in an upset.)
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But make no mistake: these are the two best heavyweights in the world today … and Usyk is the one and only true heavyweight champion. How will he fare in his first title defense? We’re roughly two hours from finding out.
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main events
Ishmael Davis and Serhiy Bokhatyuk are currently in the fifth round of their undercard bout. This will be the final eliminator for the WBC super welterweight title held by Sebastian Fundora. Davis, a 29-year-old from Leeds nicknamed the Black Panther, was knocked down in his second run and wobbled heavily to his Ukrainian opponent in his third, but he still fought on.
This bout will be followed by another preliminary bout, a 10-round heavyweight bout between Moses Itauma and Demsey McKean. After this is the main event.
preamble
Hello. Welcome to tonight's heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. Seven months after Usyk defeated Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in a quarter of a century, we're back at Riyadh's Kingdom Arena. Will the 2012 Olympic and Ukrainian two-division champion further his dominance in boxing's prestige division? Or will it be 2 Fury 2 Furious as the Gypsy King rises to the top of the heavyweight throne?
Among the many well-documented reasons why boxing has long retreated toward the fringes of the mainstream, the lack of clearly identifiable champions accounts for a high percentage of the roster of competitors. Once upon a time, the World Heavyweight Championship was the most prestigious title in the sport, but the lack of central authority has left four major sanctioning bodies, devaluing the title and generally making it difficult for casual observers. causing confusion between.
Usyk won a razor-thin 12-round split decision in May, adding Fury's WBC title to the triple WBA, IBF and WBO titles he won from Anthony Joshua, becoming the first boxer to hold them all. At that moment, I achieved the clarity I had longed for. He became the first player since Lennox Lewis to simultaneously win major belts.
There's nothing good about the rematch tonight. do not have For an undisputed title. That's because Usyk generously surrendered the IBF strap in June so he could fuel the Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua show at Wembley in September. (Dubois won the belt in that bout with an upset fifth-round knockout.)
But don't get me wrong. These two are the best heavyweights in the world today…and Usyk is the only true heavyweight champion. What will happen in his first title defense? It's been about 2 hours since I found out.
Brian will be here soon. In the meantime, here are Donald McRae's predictions for Saturday's main event.
