Tag

Oleksandr Usyk

Browsing

The world of boxing is on the edge of its seat as the date for the much-anticipated match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk draws near. The two heavyweights will face off on February 17th, in a fight that promises to unify several heavyweight titles – namely the WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF, and IBO. The World Heavyweight Championship match, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has boxing enthusiasts around the globe eagerly waiting in anticipation.

Anticipation Runs High

The upcoming match has sparked a flurry of speculation among fans and industry insiders alike. The question on everyone’s lips: Which channel will have the honor of broadcasting this highly anticipated event? ESPN is expected to cover the match live for viewers in the United States, while TNT Sports is projected to be the go-to channel for audiences in the United Kingdom. However, these details have yet to be officially confirmed, leaving room for discussion and conjecture.

A Potential Surprise for Hungarian Fans

Meanwhile, our editorial team has received insider information suggesting that DAZN might be the streaming service provider set to bring the match to Hungarian fans. If this proves accurate, it would be a welcome surprise for boxing enthusiasts in Hungary. However, it should be noted that accessing the match on DAZN would likely require a paid subscription plan.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

 

Heavyweight Titans Prepare for the Ring

As the broadcast details continue to unfold, the focus remains firmly on the two fighters at the heart of the event. Tyson Fury, holder of the WBC heavyweight title, and Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds the WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, are both preparing to bring their best to the ring. The 12-round match promises to be a showcase of strength, strategy, and raw talent as these two titans of boxing fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

In conclusion, with the date swiftly approaching, the anticipation continues to build for the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk match. As the world waits for the final word on the broadcast details, one thing is clear: this fight promises to be a pivotal moment in the history of heavyweight boxing.

Turki Alalshikh is open to financially backing an Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight even if Fury loses twice to Oleksandr Usyk.

The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which has fully funded many of the biggest fights in boxing over the past few months, won’t abandon bouts he believes boxing fans will still want to see even if fighters lose. Alalshikh still sees a way to put together a Joshua-Deontay Wilder fight, which would’ve finally taken place March 8 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh had Joseph Parker not upset Wilder by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder December 23 at Kingdom Arena.

The 42-year-old Alalshikh will take the same approach to Fury-Joshua if Usyk defeats Fury in their heavyweight title unification fight February 17 at Kingdom Arena. England’s Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and Ukraine’s Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) have reportedly agreed to a two-fight deal, thus the loser could exercise his right to an immediate rematch later this year.

Unless Fury-Usyk results in a draw or no-contest, the winner would become the sport’s first fully unified heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. If Fury wins, he would need to beat Usyk twice before securing a long-discussed, highly anticipated showdown with Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs), who will need to defeat Francis Ngannou (0-1) on March 8 to maintain his place in the Fury fight or even a third fight versus Usyk.

If Cameroon’s Ngannou upsets England’s Joshua, who has opened as a 6-1 favorite to beat the former UFC heavyweight champ, and Fury defeats Usyk, a Fury-Ngannou rematch obviously would become the once-unforeseen fight to make for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO titles. Ngannou stunningly pushed Fury in his professional boxing debut, during which he floored Fury with a left hook late in the third round, yet lost a 10-round split decision October 28 at Kingdom Arena.

Alalshikh offered his perspective on those potential heavyweight fights during a wide-ranging interview with DAZN’s Ade Oladipo, which was posted to the streaming service’s website and social media platforms Wednesday.

Tyson Fury

“We want to see Fury-Usyk and the result, and the rematch between Fury [and] Usyk,” Alalshikh said. “And after that, we want to see Tyson Fury against Ngannou, or the people want to see it. And we want to see, if Fury [wins], we want to see him against Joshua if Joshua [wins]. If Usyk [wins], maybe we have [a] chance to have the third fight. And even if Usyk [wins], the people still want to see Tyson against Joshua. This is what we want to deliver to the market. And we close a lot of things about this.”

With strong support from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Alalshikh aggressively has gone about offering the type of purses required to make fights like Fury-Usyk, Fury-Ngannou, Joshua-Ngannou, Joshua-Otto Wallin, Parker-Wilder and Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) against WBO interim champ Zhilei Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs), the co-feature of the March 8 pay-per-view event that’ll be headlined by Joshua and Ngannou.

“We are coming with new strategy,” Alalshikh said, “and new idea and new vision … to do and deliver to the market the best [fights], with good price, and make the [fights] that people want to see. We don’t want to waste time. Tyson Fury is 35 now, around 35. Joshua is around 33, I think. Usyk [is] around 36, Wilder 38, 37. Artur [Beterbiev] now 39, next week. Why we are losing time?

“The people need to see Joshua-Fury, Fury-Joshua, need to see Joshua-Wilder. And I hope Wilder [comes] back. You know, and there is rumor, and you know it, the fight was between Joshua and Wilder [for March 8]. But you see the result and the body condition of Wilder now. It would not be reasonable to have the fight now. We want him to come back. And I see Parker, what he’s doing, amazing show, and he’s one of the best boxer [who has come back] now, this year.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.

JEFF POWELL: Anthony Joshua has relatively easy work ahead to return to a world title as he looks more like the old AJ… and now will he fight Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk next winter?

  • Anthony Joshua looked back to the old AJ in beating Otto Wallin on Saturday
  • 2024 could see two Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fights – before a date for AJ

Anthony Joshua rolled back the years. Deontay Wilder rolled up the carpet.

So complex are the ironies of big-time boxing that AJ – instead of pocketing one hundred million dollars from two sand-shoe shuffles with the broken Bronze Bomber – will be offered a shortcut to a third world heavyweight title.

Deep down – since he already has ten times more millions to his account than the 15 children Wilder and Tyson Fury have sired between them – this is what Joshua may prefer.

In the final reckoning legacy, respect, history and all that come down to all you put into the record books. Not how much into your bank.

If in Riyadh on Saturday night Wilder had continued proving himself the most lethal puncher since Iron Mike Tyson instead of feebly losing all 12 rounds to Kiwi Joseph Parker, then the desert sun would have risen over a very different landscape.

Now the two-fight contract with Wilder lies gathering dust in the Saudi Kingdom while Joshua contemplates the prospect of meeting one Filip Hrgovic for a vacant IBF world championship.

So contrary is this particular sanctioning body that they are expected to strip their belt from the winner of the February 17 fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed world heavyweight championship for which boxing has been begging the last two decades.

While those two go back to Saudi for a rematch in the summer, the IBF will insist on their mandatory challenger getting his shot.

Tyson Fury And Oleksandr Usyk

Step up Croatia’s Hrgovic, who kept his nose clean on Saturday with an instant stoppage of hapless Australian fall guy Mark De Mori. More relatively easy work for Joshua, now he has got his mojo back.

No, Otto Wallin is no longer the same Swedish basher who once gave Fury a gashed eye and a headache. But yes, Joshua did look more like the old AJ who pounded his way to Olympic gold and two world heavyweight titles.

The aggression which evaporated after he was knocked out by Mexico’s roly-poly Andy Ruiz Jr returned. As did the fluency of forward movement, the ramrod left jab, the bone-shaking rights. Most importantly of all the confidence as he bullied his way through the first four rounds before referee Steve Gray and Wallin’s corner men agreed their man had suffered punishment enough.

The trainers played significant roles in the bill-topping fights. Ben Davison coaxed Joshua out of his negative mindset and on to the front once more. Andy Lee not only brought former world champion Parker back to title contention but also into the best performance of his life.

It gives hope to us all that the likeable New Zealander benefited mentally also from sharing a few Jagermeisters as well invaluable sparring with his idol and friend Fury.

As for Wilder, after his retreat into Costa Rica’s eco jungle to sample the mystic powers of psychedelic drugs he boxed as if still in a nirvana trance.

When he raised an arm at the final bell as if expecting the gods to declare him triumphant he was still gazing at the moon. Parker won every round on one official card as well as mine and many others.

Not until the twelfth did he make any significant effort to land his right bazooka. Even then his timing was so far off that he couldn’t have punched his way out of a cobweb. Not even rust after only 50 seconds in the ring, for his last stoppage victory win since the third of his wars with Fury, can explain this away.

‘Perhaps I’ve found too much love in my life,’ Wilder muttered while hinting at retirement. That, he retracted later but whenever he returns to reality he will have to consider that at 38 he is unlikely ever to be the same deadly fighting man again. Highly unlikely, perhaps we should say. For Wilder the magic carpet ride looks to have crash-landed. For good.

With 2024 beginning to look like the last year of the Golden Oldies – with Fury and Usyk fighting each other twice and maybe the winner giving Joshua his hefty cash-out next winter – Daniel Dubois has found redemption just in time to be party to the succession.

Doubts raised about Dynamite Daniel’s stomach for the hardest game after his second taking of a knee, against Usyk, required answers.

He provided them by beating up Jarrell Miller, the man mountain almost as wide as he is tall, then stopping this belligerent and previously undefeated American brawler seconds before the end of the tenth and final round.

Criticism can sometimes be your best friend. A motivator to which a reborn Joshua and a redeemed Dubois have just borne witness.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will clash in a “historic” fight for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia on February 17, it has been announced.

British star Fury will put his WBC belt, Lineal heavyweight belts  on the line, while the WBA, IBF and WBO titles held by Ukraine’s Usyk will be up for grabs in Riyadh.
The winner will be crowned the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis who reigned from 1999 to 2000.
Fury, 35, and Usyk, 36, were originally expected to clash on December 23 but Fury’s poor displayed in a split-decision victory over MMA star Francis Ngannou last month forced a delay.
The pair will finally step into the ring in 2024 as Fury looks to add to his record of 34 wins with one draw since turning professional in 2008
“This is a historic event. The whole world of boxing has been waiting for many, many years, and they now have this fight,” Fury’s promoter Frank Warren told reporters at a press conference in London on Thursday.
“For the first time this century, we will have an undisputed heavyweight champion.
“As a promoter I’ve been banging my head against the wall. But now we have the creme de la creme. These two undefeated heavyweight fighters.”

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
In typically combative mood at the press conference, Fury referenced his 2015 victory over Usyk’s fellow Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, which earned him the WBA, IBF and WBO titles
“I already relieved one Ukrainian of all the belts, and now I’m going to take them all back,” Fury said.
“Usyk’s a champion, I’m a champion. It’s going to be a fight for the ages.”
Fury believes a victory over Usyk would cement his status as one of the all-time greats.
“He’s a good boxer, slick. But I’ve seen people like him before, and when they fight the big man, they lose,” he said.
“I believe we’re both destined to be here. I’m destined to become the undisputed champion, and more than that, cement my legacy.”
Usyk kept his cool amid Fury’s insults, which included taking swipes at his opponent’s height and his ear-ring.

“Yes I’m a little man. I’ll speak in the ring,” Usyk said.
Fury has held the WBC belt since he defeated Deontay Wilder in 2020 and has defended the title three times.
He stopped Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April 2022 and beat Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium eight months later.
Usyk, who has won all 21 of his fights, has been the WBA, IBF and WBO title holder since defeating Anthony Joshua in 2021.

After a long months of struggling, Tyson Fury finally successfully negotiated a fight. Fury last fought against Derek Chisora back in December 2022. Since that time, he’s been on a long break, mostly because he couldn’t finalize a deal with any of the potential opponents. His deal with Oleksandr Usyk for an April fight collapsed. A similar thing happened later with Anthony Joshua as well. In the end, he shook hands with the former UFC fighter, Francis Ngannou, for a crossover boxing fight.

At first, many considered Ngannou to be an underdog and favored Fury for the fight. That was until Mike Tyson came into the picture. As per the reports, ‘Iron’ Mike agreed to train Ngannou for the fight. This created waves on the internet, and this addition turned the tables for the fight. Recently, in an interview, Mike Tyson revealed his reasons for taking up the offer to train Francis Ngannou.
The interview began with the question, what urged Mike Tyson to take up the offer to train Francis Ngannou? As the MMA fighter wanted to work with ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ for a while now, why did he take him under his wing now? Well, Mike Tyson gave a quite straightforward reply to this, as he stated that it was too much of a big event to ignore.
Tyson said, “How many times do you really get to be at an immortal event? How many in your life would you be able to do something with this magnitude? So of course I’d want to say yes to be a part of it.” However, this decision of Mike Tyson didn’t sit well with Tyson Fury, who vowed to defeat his pupil to prove his might. Even Fury’s father John Fury criticized Mike Tyson over this.
MIKE TYSON
Both fighters, Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury are just almost a week away from their bout. Recently, they had a face-off where Ngannou talked about the importance of Mike Tyson’s presence in his training camp.
In the Face-off with Carl Frampton, recalling his journey from skepticism and humble beginnings, Ngannou radiated confidence. He has defied doubters throughout his career. He also refrained from predicting a knockout against Fury, recognizing his opponent’s intelligence. Later, he was asked by Frampton, whether he acknowledges the weight of Mike Tyson standing in his support for this fight.
Ngannou said, “For me, it’s very important. He has always been very important.” Ngannou also stated how he’ll go into the fight through Mike Tyson’s point of view and emulate his style. He added, “ I’m the smallest guy inside, which is not something that has happened very often. So, I know that I need some techniques from somebody that has been in the smallest size and nobody better than Mike Tyson.”
It’s going to be one of the biggest crossover events in the history of combat sports, being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Who are you supporting in this matchup? Let us know in the comments section.

British fighter Tyson Fury has no intention of calling it a career any time soon.

The 35-year-old has two fights remaining on his current deal with Top Rank, said that he fully plans to continue after the deal expires because of his love for the sport.

NEWS:-Ngannou fails to impress and Mike Tyson is thought to have more of a chance against Tyson Fury

Fury discussed potentially signing a new contract, per Mike Coppinger of ESPN.com:

“I’m looking to sign another 10-fight deal after this, so I don’t know, I’m going to put my feelers out there and see who I can get the best deal off for another 10 fights. What else is there? I retire, plenty of money, plenty of achievement, whatever — 35 [years old]. What am I going to do? … This makes me f—ing happy fighting. This is all I’ve ever done and all that’s ever made me happy. So it’d be stupid now to walk away from it when I’m making millions of dollars and getting loads of joy from it as well.”

Fury is 33-0-1 with one draw against Deontay Wilder early in his career. He has held multiple belts and believes that his presence in the sport makes it better.

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou

 

 

“I’ve been boxing 15 years as a pro,” Fury said, per Coppinger. “I’m going to be prone to injuries, you know, elbows, knees, shoulders, ankles, everything that can go wrong on somebody usually at our age now that goes wrong. Boxing is definitely more entertaining when I’m in it I’ll say boxing will be f–ked when I’m gone.”

Fury is set to take on UFC fighter Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28, with an undisputed heavyweight championship fight with Oleksandr Usyk following after that.

The fight against Usyk is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a two-way rematch clause means that that bout will likely have a part two. Regardless of the outcomes, it appears that Fury has plenty left in the tank.

Andy Ruiz has weighed in with his prediction for the recently signed undisputed heavyweight world title clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Though no one is writing off Usyk’s chances in the fight, most see Fury as a clear favourite, mainly due to the height and weight advantage he will be afforded on the night.

And Ruiz admitted to Fight Hub TV that though he has little doubt Fury will win, it’s down to having more skill and ability, rather than him simply being a larger man.

NEWS:-Deontay Wilder predicts one clear winner for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk

He also unsurprisingly added that he believes he is the man to dethrone ‘The Gypsy King.’

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

 

“In my eyes, I think Tyson Fury can win. He has more skills, he has more ability and I don’t think Usyk knows how to pressure and throw those combinations to smother him.”

“But if I fight him, I’ll be able to do that!”

Ruiz had been linked to a fight with Fury earlier this year, though the Brit and his representatives claimed he priced himself out of the negotiation process.

A similar accusation was labelled at ‘The Destroyer’ from Deontay Wilder’s team, though he has refuted this and claimed it was Wilder who was wanting too much money.

As for Fury vs Usyk, it will take place in Saudi Arabia, though there is not expected to be a date announced until after the former’s novelty bout with MMA star Francis Ngannou later this month.

It will be the first undisputed heavyweight world title fight since Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield in 1999, and is a legacy defining occasion for both Fury and Usyk.

The Gypsy King has teased a showdown with the MMA legend since he knocked out Dillian Whyte to retain his WBC belt in April 2022.

The clash has drawn a fair amount of criticism from fans who wanted Fury to take on Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight world titles.

But negotiations for that fight broke down as did a potential Battle of Britain meeting with heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua.

NEWS:-Anthony Joshua accuses Tyson Fury of “ducking him” after agreeing fight

Fury will instead square off with former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou under professional boxing rules.

‘Predator’ is making his first outing inside a boxing ring since his release from Dana White’s company in January.

The contest will be fought over 10 rounds and will count as an official bout but Fury’s title will not be on the line.

NEWS:-Deontay Wilder predicts one clear winner for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk

Fury is then set to face Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia later this winter to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.

Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou

Fury vs Ngannou: Date and how to follow

This crossover clash will take place on Saturday, October 28 and is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The start time for fight night is yet to be officially announced, but the ring-walks for the main event can be expected at around 10pm UK time.

The event will be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office – the new name for BT Sport – but pricing is yet to be revealed.

talkSPORT will have updates throughout fight week and talkSPORT.com will be running a live blog of all the action on fight night as well.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

ou can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Fury vs Ngannou: Undercard

Subject to change

  • MAIN EVENT: Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou 
  • David Adeleye vs Fabio Wardley
  • Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean
  • Martin Bakole vs Carlos Takam
  • Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agron Smakici
  • Moses Itauma vs TBC

Fury vs Ngannou: What has been said?

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, has revealed why there will be no world title belts on the line for this fight.

“There won’t be any belts on the line because the guy is not ranked, but we’re not selling it as that, it’s an event,” Warren said on Drive.

“We’re not saying he’s in the ratings and he won’t be in the ratings, it is what it is. It’s a crossover event between two guys from two different disciplines.”

When asked whether the fight would count on Fury’s professional boxing record, Warren said: “It’s a different type of event, I don’t know, you’ll have to ask the governing bodies.”

Anthony Joshua has accused domestic rival Tyson Fury of “ducking him” after signing to fight fellow heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury and Usyk could fight for the undisputed world heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia as soon as December 23 but ‘The Gypsy King’ will first have to get past former UFC champion Francis Ngannou on October 28. The pair meet in a crossover fight that will go on both of their professional records and Ngannou has vowed to ruin any chance of the undisputed world title fight taking place at the end of the year.

NEWS:-Deontay Wilder predicts one clear winner for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk

Joshua reacted to Fury’s upcoming fights by telling DAZN: “I wish I could balance this, cause he’s ducking. He’s definitely a duck. Whether he’s ducking me, not right now, but he’s definitely a duck. That’s facts, like you can’t deny he’s a duck. So if we’re gonna pull out the animal cards I’m pulling out a duck with Fury.”
Ngannou has claimed he will be forced to fight Fury again in the shocking event that he pulls off the upset, whilst there is also reportedly a two-way rematch clause for his undisputed fight against Usyk. Fury recently labelled Joshua as a “bum-dosser” and mocked his professional defeats to Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr.

“I don’t really care what he says. He’s a bum in my opinion. He’s just one big bum-dosser that has been knocked out three times. He’s been knocked out twice [once] and had three losses. He can’t even compare in my league any more. It’s not even a fight I am thinking about any more. I’m not even interested,” Fury told Mail Online.

Anthony Joshua

“That bubble has been burst. His virginity has been taken away so it’s not interesting for me any more. He’s been spanked by Usyk twice and been beaten by a fat man. So it’s not in my interest to beat him.” Joshua picked up his first knockout win in over two years by stopping Robert Helenius in August and has since been linked to a fight against Deontay Wilder.

Joshua vs Wilder was being planned to take place on the same event as Fury vs Usyk, but the heavyweight showdown has been delayed yet again. Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has guaranteed the mega-fight will take place in 2024 and thinks Joshua could also return to the ring in December to stay active.

Deontay Wilder has had his say on the upcoming undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and the American believes that there will be one clear winner.

Wilder has previous experience facing Fury after the pair were involved in one of the best trilogies in recent memory. But the “Bronze Bomber” failed to overcome the Brit in any of these encounters after the first was drawn before being stopped by Fury in the two that followed.

deontay wilder

While his next move is unknown, Wilder will have a keen eye on Fury vs. Usyk, and he believes the current WBC world heavyweight champion’s size will prove too much for the slick Ukrainian.

“Fury’s size is what makes him gain more success. When I see him against Usyk I see how they cheated [Steve] Cunningham with that clubbing, putting his weight on him and clubbing him, and I could see him doing the same thing with Usyk, putting his weight on him,” Wilder told Fight Hub TV.

“I do think Usyk has more skill, but when it comes to the size and stuff I don’t think he’ll be able to compete with the size of Fury. But who know’s that’s just my opinion.”

A date for Fury vs. Usyk is yet to be announced, but it has been confirmed that the fight will take place in Saudi Arabia.