Tyson Fury vs Olexandr Usyk

Anticipation is high for the colossal clash this Saturday between WBC titleholder Tyson Fury and the IBF, WBA, and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk. The victor will make history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the modern four-belt era and the first to hold undisputed status in the division since Lennox Lewis was stripped of the WBA title in 2000.

Boxing enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the moment when Fury and Usyk would finally face off in the ring. Their negotiations have repeatedly broken down, with a planned December 2023 fight falling through after Fury narrowly avoided defeat by Francis Ngannou in October. The bout was then moved to February 17, only for Fury to suffer a cut during a sparring session two weeks before the match.

Now, the stage is set for the two fighters to finally compete in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with great interest surrounding how the match will unfold.

Fury boasts an unblemished record in 35 fights, with the only mark being a 2018 draw against Deontay Wilder. He captured his first world title in 2015 by defeating Wladimir Klitschko via decision, securing the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts. Following this triumph, Fury experienced significant weight gain and multiple injuries, compounded by failed drug tests that sidelined him for over two years and cost him his titles.

Two fights after Fury's comeback to boxing, he faced Wilder for the first time. Many analysts thought the "Gypsy King" had done enough to win, even coming back from a late knockdown that would have easily finished almost any other fighter in the world. After three bouts, Fury and Wilder re-entered the ring, with Fury controlling the bout until a stoppage in Round 7 to claim the WBC title. Fury then stopped Wilder in the eleventh round to solidify his position as the division's top fighter.

After that, Fury defeated Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte with ease before coming dangerously close to defeating former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou. Fury looked out of condition for the bout and found it difficult to control a fighter making his boxing debut; in the third round, he even had to get up from the ground following a clean blow before losing by a close split decision.

Usyk brings an impressive career history to the ring, boasting an undefeated 21-0 record.

In 2016, Usyk became the WBO cruiserweight champion and successfully defended his title twice before entering the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament. This tournament included eight fighters, featuring all four world champions.

During the tournament, Usyk won by TKO against Marco Huck, secured a majority decision victory over Mairis Briedis to claim the WBC title, and triumphed over Murat Gassiev by unanimous decision in the finals, earning the WBA and IBF titles and becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion.

After defeating Tony Bellew, Usyk declared his plans to move up to the heavyweight division.

Since transitioning to heavyweight, Usyk has continued to excel, defeating Chazz Witherspoon by stoppage and Derek Chisora by decision, which led to an opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua for the unified championship.

In September 2021, Usyk showcased his boxing prowess against Joshua, unsettling the multi-time unified champion several times during the fight and securing a decisive win. The two fought again the next year, with Usyk winning a more closely contested match by split decision.

Fury is a powerful man with excellent defense and footwork for his size, but his size might be the most important aspect of the bout. Fury is an expert at using opponents as leverage and depleting their vitality. Due in part to Ngannou's expertise in working in the clinch as a professional mixed martial artist, that strategy backfired against him. Because Ngannou is larger than Usyk, Fury might be able to lean on him anytime the smaller man enters by popping out of range.

Tyson Fury, renowned for his strength, displays remarkable defense and agility for his stature, yet his size might play a crucial role in the upcoming match. Fury excels in utilizing his opponents' energy against them, effectively draining their stamina. This tactic didn't succeed against Francis Ngannou due to his experience in clinch work as a seasoned mixed martial artist. Given that Ngannou is bigger than Oleksandr Usyk, Fury might exploit this by evading and leaning on Usyk whenever he gets too close.

Fury faced significant criticism for underestimating Ngannou, and rightfully so. He was already focused on the future fight, which doesn't excuse his unimpressive performance against the UFC's lineal heavyweight champion. However, it provides insight into what to anticipate on Saturday.

In essence, Fury is one of the top big-game competitors when he is focused, and few matches are as significant as this one. His recent engagement with Ngannou and the failure to arrange a fight with Anthony Joshua have given Usyk's supporters hope. Many eager Usyk fans have been waiting for their champion to challenge The Gypsy King, and Fury is undoubtedly aware of the buzz. If Usyk wants to face Fury at his peak, he will certainly encounter that and more.

Size is a critical factor, and Usyk will have to contend with exhausting clinch work in the initial rounds. This strategy relies on Fury's ability to cut off Usyk's angles, a challenging task, but one that Fury will meticulously execute even if the audience grows restless due to the lack of significant action. In the later rounds, Fury's true skill will emerge as the slightly fatigued Usyk struggles to evade Fury's powerful punches.

Usyk has shown he can endure punches, and this resilience will be crucial, but Fury's unique blend of power and volume will eventually wear down his defenses. While Usyk looks for opportunities to land combinations, Fury will relentlessly press him, pushing him to the ropes with his formidable strength.