Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury engaged in an intense, bad-tempered face-off that lasted 11 minutes on Thursday, setting the stage for their eagerly anticipated heavyweight rematch.
The defending champion, Usyk, and Fury, seeking redemption from his first career loss in May, stood inches apart. They exchanged silent, steely glares before Fury broke the silence with taunts aimed at his Ukrainian rival.
During fight week in Riyadh, Fury has displayed unparalleled focus, driven by the sting of his split-decision defeat earlier this year. “Talking’s been done… I’ve talked and joked all my career,” Fury stated somberly at the press conference. “This time, I’m serious. I’m going to do some damage here on Saturday night. I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain. I’m going to put (Usyk) in the hurt locker, for sure,” he added.
THIS WAS INTENSE! USYK AND FURY FACE OFF! 👀 😤#Usyk2Fury pic.twitter.com/rab75GLugK
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 19, 2024In contrast, Usyk maintained his composure, opting out of the verbal jousting and focusing on the upcoming bout. “Now we have just a performance, those cameras, lights,” he remarked, with his promoter Alex Krassyuk translating. “Everything’s going to take place on Saturday night.”
Read: Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury to Become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
Usyk, 37, enters the ring at Kingdom Arena with a perfect 22-0 record, bolstered by six wins since moving up from the cruiserweight division. Fury, known as the “Gypsy King,” boasts a record of 34-1-1 and is determined to overturn his sole defeat to the skilful Usyk seven months ago.
Eddie Hearn gives his prediction for Usyk vs Fury 2 🗣️#UsykFury2 x #RiyadhSeason | Saturday | Live on Sky Sports Box Office pic.twitter.com/4gYuMpQPty
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) December 19, 2024The bout, set against the backdrop of Riyadh’s glamorous VIA Riyadh Mall, has a reported prize purse of £150 million ($190 million), with Usyk expected to take the larger share. Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment in sports, including this high-profile boxing event, continues amid scrutiny and accusations of “sports washing” due to the nation’s human rights record.
