LONDON – Tyson Fury will take on Oleksandr Usyk in a historic undisputed heavyweight boxing showdown in Saudi Arabia, the promoters announced on Friday after contracts were signed.
The date of the contest, which will take place in Riyadh, has not been announced, though the reports suggest Dec 23.
Ukraine’s Usyk, 36, holds the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation heavyweight belts, while Britain’s Fury, 35, is the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion.
The winner of the bout will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era – Lennox Lewis is the last recognised undisputed champion in the division more than 20 years ago.
“This is the biggest fight that could possibly be made in our sport,” said Fury’s promoter Frank Warren.
“The heavyweights always spark the imagination of the fans, and I have no doubt this will be the biggest boxing event of the century.”
Neither fighter has been beaten in their professional careers.
Fury has won 33 fights with one draw, while Usyk has won all 21 of his bouts.
“I can’t believe that it’s happening but it is,” said Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk.
“Difficult to express my admiration for being part of the biggest heavyweight fight of the century. Respect to Tyson for his courage.”
Before that, Fury is due to fight former Ultimate Fighting Championship world heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on Oct 28 in Riyadh, where his WBC title will not be on the line.
But it was clear which bout he was looking forward to.
“I do what I say. I say what I do. Undisputed. This is the Gypsy King era,” Fury posted on Instagram, adding: “You can’t rabbit run any more Usyk.”
The Briton won his first world title after dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, before taking a hiatus from the sport during which he suffered from mental health problems.
He returned more than 2½ years later and beat Deontay Wilder in 2020 to become WBC champion after their first bout was controversially declared a draw. Fury won a third fight with Wilder and has since retained his belt against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora.
Usyk shot to fame by winning heavyweight gold at the 2012 Olympics. He went on to become the undisputed world champion at cruiserweight before switching to the heavyweight division in 2019.
The Ukrainian shocked Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to claim his heavyweight belts in 2021 and defeated the Briton again in a rematch before getting the better of Daniel Dubois in August. AFP, REUTERS
