Oleksandr Usyk: record, next fight and profile →
Monday, May 13 Another day, another embarrassment in which John Fury was at the centre. His 35-year-old son may be just days away from a career-defining victory that would enhance his status as one of the very finest heavyweights of all time, but John Fury – not unlike in much of the documentary footage surrounding his prizefighter son Tyson – was apparently unable to resist again attempting to be the centre of the world.
Logic should dictate that the more well-matched the fight, the greater the likelihood of a draw. That’s certainly the case ahead of Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury where the draw is currently priced at +1400 and 14/1 in the UK. They’re not dead cert odds by any means but certainly short enough to underline it’s a distinct possibility. One could also argue that the short odds on a draw this weekend is not just a reflection on the quality of the matchmaking but a nod to the potential for controversy in fights as big as this. Draws in boxing would be far more palatable if the majority who watched felt that was the fair result – but widespread applause greeting such verdicts is rare.
On Saturday night, Ryan Garner scored the best victory of his career by beating Liam Dillon over 10 exciting rounds. The 26-year-old Garner is already by a pool in Turkey nursing a black eye and a cocktail. Garner, 15-0 (8 KOs), showed signs of real quality during his victory over former British super featherweight champion Dillon, and also had to call on previously uncapped reserves of desire and stamina as the tough Londoner put in a tremendously brave effort.
Here’s a list of names for you to absorb: Floyd Patterson, Ingemar Johansson, Patterson again, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ali a second time, Leon Spinks, Ali a third time, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Mike Tyson, Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Holyfield again, Michael Moorer, Foreman a second time 20 years later, Shannon Briggs, Lennox Lewis, Hasim Rahman, Lewis again, Wladimir Klitschko, and Tyson Fury. Here's another list of names you may find interesting: Ernie Terrell, Mike Weaver, Gerrie Coetzee, Tony Tubbs, Francesco Damiani, Tommy Morrison, Michael Bentt, Herbie Hide, Oliver McCall, Bruce Seldon, Henry Akinwande, John Ruiz, Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster, Nikolai Valuev, Siarhei Liakhovich, Oleg Maskaev, Ruslan Chagaev, Sultan Ibragimov, Sam Peter, Bermane Stiverne, Charles Martin, Lucas Browne, Manuel Charr, and Trevor Bryan.
Before the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk fight reaches the emotional crescendo of the news-conference face-off or the dramatic tension of the weigh-in, someone in power ought to think of sending home Fury’s father, John Fury.
Mike Tyson thinks Tyson Fury will overpower Oleksandr Usyk when the two face each other this Saturday for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
Tyson Fury is “levels ahead” of everyone Jordan Thompson has ever sparred – Oleksandr Usyk included.
RIYADH – Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua is wasting his time being in Riyadh for the fight on Saturday between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. At the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, Fury and Usyk will finally battle for the undisputed heavyweight title, and do so with a rematch clause already in place for them to fight again later in 2024.
The officials for the impending world heavyweight title showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 have been decided and agreed by all parties, BoxingScene understands. The referee will be Maplewood, Minnesota’s Mark Nelson, a veteran who will be taking charge of his 990th bout. More than 100 of those have had a world title of some description on the line. The judges are Spain’s Manuel Oliver Palermo, Canada’s Craig Metcalfe and Jacksonville, Wisconsin's Mike Fitzgerald.
On May 18, WBA, IBF and WBO titleholder Oleksandr Usyk and WBC titlist Tyson Fury will finally meet to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield back in November 1999. The winner will have proven himself to be the best of his era, and each has the profile and personality to carry the title even without the need for belts. Which is handy. Modern boxing politics make it difficult for a fighter to maintain control of an entire division, and the current (and welcome) will to put on the best and most exciting heavyweight fights possible makes it even less likely that either Usyk or Fury would be able to satisfy all of his mandatory commitments.