Watching the heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk: A guide to catching the undisputed championship match
After multiple months of discussions and postponed battles, the two boxers will finally clash on May 18, 2023, to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 and the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era. Here's what you need to know about the mega fight.
When and where to watch
The event will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The undercard begins at 12 p.m. ET, with the main event ringwalks planned for 6 p.m. ET.
DAZN will stream the fight around the globe, while US viewers can see it on ESPN's pay-per-view channel. UK audiences can watch it on Sky Sports and TNT Sports through their pay-per-view services.
A fight long in the making
A match between Fury and Usyk has been eagerly anticipated for some time.
Fury, who holds the WBC heavyweight title, has faced a series of top-notch opponents, including Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, and a trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
In the opposite corner stands Usyk, who has conquered the cruiserweight division and captured the WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, defeating Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois in the process.
Throughout the years, boxing fans have lamented the lack of top-tier contenders squaring off against each other. In March 2022, rumors circulated that the two camps were close to coming to terms for a fight in April. By December 2023, a deal had been reached, only to be delayed due to Fury's tough battle against ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The second date was set for February 2024, but another setback occurred when Fury sustained an eye injury in a sparring session, postponing the event again.
After two reschedules, the long-awaited fight is finally happening. Usyk expressed frustration over missing the birth of his daughter due to the rigorous training for the fight.
High stakes
Besides the four heavyweight world titles, there are many other factors at play. The winner will be regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of their generation and will remain unbeaten.
Fury has a 34-0-1 record in his career, while Usyk is undefeated with a 21-0 profile.
The 37-year-old Usyk is currently ranked as the third best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by The Ring magazine. Becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion will solidify his standing in the division.
For Fury, a win would help him regain momentum following his unexpected performance against Ngannou in October. It could also potentially set the stage for a highly anticipated clash with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Physically, Fury holds an advantage with his 6-foot-9-inch frame and an 85-inch reach compared to Usyk's 6-foot-3-inch height and 78-inch reach.
The bout is expected to be a strategic duel, with each fighter reluctant to reveal their weaknesses.
Ahead of the event, Fury told Usyk, "God bless him. I'll say a prayer for him before the fight and for us both to get out of the ring safely."
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Source: edition.cnn.com
