Press conference notes: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk set for undisputed heavyweight showdown
Photos Courtesy: Top Rank
WBC and Lineal champion Tyson "The Gypsy King" Fury and WBO/IBF/WBA unified champ Oleksandr Usyk will collide in a historic undisputed heavyweight showdown on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The winner will become boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Britain’s Lennox Lewis claimed that honor 24 years ago, but this time, four belts are on the line.
Ahead of the blockbuster ‘Ring of Fire’ fight, Fury and Usyk came face-to-face at a press conference Thursday in London and had to be pulled apart by security. Fury immediately leaned on Usyk, perhaps to demonstrate his superior siez and weight advantage, but Usyk pushed back and the rivals were held back from each other. Tyson was then later heard hurling abuse at the Ukrainian, calling him a "sausage" and an "ugly little man". The unified WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO champion just laughed it all off, opting to remain calm and professional.
This is what the heavyweight champions had to say:
Tyson Fury
“I’ve been in many heavyweight title fights before. And now is the most important one. We’re both undefeated. He’s a champion; I’m a champion. And it’s going to be one of the fights for the ages.
“It’s been 24 years since we’ve last had an undisputed heavyweight world champion. And we know that the Klitschkos were champions for about 10 years. So there’s been another 14 years where other heavyweights couldn’t stop it. So we’ve been chosen. And I believe we’re both destined to be here. And there’s only one winner: I’m destined to become undisputed champion.
“We’re not here to talk. It’s not a talking contest. It’s a boxing match. On February 17, all the talking goes out the window. It doesn’t matter what he or what I said. It comes down to who wins the fight. He thinks he’s going to win. I know I’m going to win. There’s not much more to be said.”
Oleksandr Usyk
“I’m very happy to be here. Thank you to everyone. I will speak more in the ring.
“I want to tell a story that looks very similar to our story with Tyson, about David and Goliath.
“When the Lord gives me Tyson in my hands, I will do my job.”
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