As the heat rises in Saudi Arabia, the anticipation for a spectacular display of resilience and determination for boxing also increases. The clash between the electrifying ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury and the relentless ‘The Cat’ Oleksandr Usyk for the Undisputed Heavyweight title, initially set for February 17, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was met with a setback now scheduled for May 18, 2024. In a testament to his warrior spirit, Tyson Fury sustained a cut during a sparring session, necessitating medical attention and significant stitching. This injury led to a delay in the fight, but it only served to fuel their determination. This upcoming fight, the first Undisputed Heavyweight title since 1999, is not just a clash of titans but a monumental event that has the potential to redefine the sport. The four major world titles, WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF, will be on the line in this four-belt era. Get ready to witness the most exhilarating fight that will leave a lasting impression on your weekend.
Tyson Fury is a British professional boxer born on August 12, 1988, in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester. He represented England and Ireland in his amateur career. In 2006, he won bronze at the AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships. Again, in 2006, he took part in the senior national championships but was defeated with a record of 22-8. In May 2007, he defeated Istvan Bernath to win the EU Junior Championship. In July 2007, Tyson Fury won a silver medal in the super heavyweight category at the European Junior Championships. In addition, he was also the winner of the ABA super-heavyweight title, defeating Damien Campbell 19-1, and a super-heavyweight gold medalist at the English National Championships in London. Fury turned professional in 2008 and finished his amateur career with a 31–4 record and 26 knockouts. He has had a successful boxing career; in 2015, he won the IBF, WBA, and WBO world heavyweight titles by defeating Wladimir Klitschko, and in 2020, he became the WBC heavyweight champion of the world by defeating Deontay Wilder. In 2021 and 2022, he earned an estimated $60 million for the rematch with Wilder and the fight with Dillian Whyte. According to his current record, he has won 34 matches, drawn one, and remains undefeated. He held the Ring magazine title twice, from 2015 to 2022, and the unified heavyweight title from 2015 to 2016. In this fight, Tyson Fury will do a massive upset over Oleksandr Usyk.
Oleksandr Usyk is a Ukrainian professional boxer, born on January 17, 1987, in Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Oleksandr Usyk’s amateur boxing record is 335 wins and 15 losses. He won the heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and the light heavyweight gold medal at the 2008 European Championships in Liverpool. In addition, he won bronze at the European Middleweight Championships in Plovdiv in 2006. His other amateur wins include defeating Mihailo Muntean in the semi-finals of the Klichko Bros tournament and winning the final of the Klichko Bros tournament by defeating Osmay Acosta. In 2009, he defeated Denis Poyatsika twice at the Ukrainian National Championship and won the final of the Makar Mazay Memorial. He later turned pro in 2013 and won all of his professional bouts. He won the WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight title and the WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO cruiserweight title. Oleksandr Usyk’s professional record is 21 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. Some of his professional career highlights are in 2011 and the World Championships, where he won the heavyweight gold medal; in 2012, Olymphics Usyk won the heavyweight gold medal. In September 2021, Usyk won the heavyweight title with a victory over Anthony Joshua, and in August 2022, he defended the heavyweight belt in a rematch with Joshua. Overall, looking at his successful professional and amateur career, he will make this fight as challenging as he can to be the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
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Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: Event Details
Main Event: Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Date: May 18, 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET | 11:00 a.m. PT | 11:30 p.m. IST
Venue: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Where to Watch Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk?
The Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight will be broadcast live on DAZN, Sky Sports, and TNT Sports in the UK. Fans worldwide can watch the fight on DAZN, except for China, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk Fight Card
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk (IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight titles)
Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis (For the vacant IBF cruiserweight title)
Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace (For the Cordina’s IBF super featherweight title)
Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel (Heavyweight)
Moses Itauma vs. Ilija Mezencev (Heavyweight)
Mark Chamberlain vs. Joshua Wahab (Lightweight)
Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Sirawn Safar (Light heavyweight)
Daniel Lapin vs. Octavio Pudivtr (Light heavyweight)
David Nyika vs. Michael Seitz (Cruiserweight)
Isaac Lowe vs. Hasibullah Ahmadi (Featherweight)
Tyson Fury Stats and Odds
Nationality: British
Age: 35
Height: 6′ 9″
Reach: 85″
Total Fights: 35
Record:34-0-1 (24 KOs)
Oleksandr Usyk Stats and Odds
Nationality: Ukrainian
Age: 37
Height: 6′ 3″
Reach: 78″
Total Fights: 21
Record:21-0 (14 KOs)
Predictions
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
The fighters Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk were coming off with an undefeatable record. At the end of this match, one will face the first defeat of one’s professional boxing career. This fight will be a 12-round heavyweight bout; as we mentioned above, at the end of the fight, the bout will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. During their previous battle, Tyson Fury defeated Francis Ngannou through a split decision on October 28, 2023, at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On the fight day, Tyson Fury won two cards, 96-93 and 95-94, whereas Francis Ngannou won the third card with 95-94. When Ngannou dropped Fury with a left hook in the third round, the 10-round bout became highly competitive. Although Fury made it through and ultimately won, Ngannou claimed the judges “robbed” him and expressed his desire for a rematch. The specific strength of Tyson Fury is size and reach; his towering height and long reach gave him a high advantage in controlling distance and landing punches, and his footwork is also phenomenal, allowing him to move fluidly and evade opponents’ attacks. Additionally, Tyson Fury’s strength is his ring IQ and adaptability, which help him adapt to their opponent and the situation. At the same time, he struggles with counter-punching, which makes him vulnerable when opponents attack. Sometimes, his punches need more crispness and proper technique; he must punch straighter. Tyson Fury’s strategy and experience with physical dominance and adaptability will make this fight more promising and exciting.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois on August 26, 2023, at Stadion Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland, and Retained WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles. Usyk won the game through knockout in the ninth round. In the fifth round, Daniel Dubois was knocked down with punches, and the referee ruled a low blow, giving Usyk almost four minutes to recover. After regaining control, Usyk knocked down Dubois repeatedly in the eighth round, and the referee stopped the bout following a second knockdown in the ninth. After the match, Daniel Dubois said, “I should be a world champion right now. It wasn’t justice. This needs to be called out and go further than living this lie. They just cheated out there”. Dubois’ manager, Frank Warren, said the stoppage was a ‘coward’s way out’ and that Usyk’s punches were ‘legal’. Warren also called on boxing authorities to investigate the decision. With an undefeated record, Oleksandr Usyk will try to push this fight toward victory rather than suffer the first defeat in his career. Oleksandr Usyk is well-known for his technical prowess, and most of his success was due to his footwork, timing, and ring intelligence. Apart from that, he has quick adaptability, making him adjust mid-fight, a significant asset. Although certain factors to consider about him is, Usyk’s body was impacted by the distress caused by the events in Ukraine. He became less overweight and more stressed. Overall, his technical prowess will play a significant role in the fight against Tyson Fury. While looking at both fighter’s overall performances, Tyson Fury has a slight edge to win this battle either with a knockout or technical knockout. Still, Oleksandr Usyk will try to knockout Tyson Fury or move this fight toward a decision.
The Pick: Tyson Fury via KO/TKO