Might 17, 2024, 5:30 PM ET
Tyson Fury dropped some weight and appeared in good condition on the weigh-in for his heavyweight struggle with Oleksandr Usyk.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Tyson Fury had a lackluster efficiency in opposition to Francis Ngannou in October, however “The Gypsy King” appeared in significantly better form throughout Friday’s weigh-in at 262 kilos forward of his undisputed heavyweight championship struggle in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk.
England’s Fury weighed 277.5 kilos when he was knocked down by the previous UFC heavyweight champion, a cut up choice victory in a non-title struggle. Fury’s 262 kilos are his lowest since he defeated Otto Wall in September 2019 at 254 kilos.
Usyk, in the meantime, weighed in at a career-high 233.5 kilos. His earlier excessive was 221.5 kilos when he defeated Anthony Joshua of their August 2022 rematch. Each have been shirtless and carrying pants (there is no such thing as a weight restrict for heavyweights in boxing).
After the fighters tipped the scales, Fury and Usyk engaged in a heated shoving match on the stage of the open-air BLVD Metropolis within the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“I am able to rock,” mentioned Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs). “Fireworks tomorrow night time. I will put out that rattling spark. I am going for her coronary heart. That is what I am coming for. Fuck her belt. I am going for her f—– coronary heart.” “
Saturday’s struggle (12 ET, ESPN+ pay-per-view) options ESPN’s high two heavyweights (Fury is No. 1) in addition to two of the highest 10 pound-for-pound fighters on the planet. Fury is No. 10 on ESPN’s checklist; Olympic gold medalist Usyk is in third place.
The previous undisputed cruiserweight champion cleared the 200-pound weight class after which captured the WBA, WBO and IBF titles with a pair of wins over Anthony Joshua.
Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs), 37, will compete at heavyweight for the sixth time. He’s coming off a ninth-round knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in August.
“Do not be afraid,” Usyk mentioned he instructed Fury, 35, through the confrontation. “I will not go away you alone tomorrow.”
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Usyk, who lives in war-torn Ukraine, mentioned he can stay calm within the face of Fury’s antics as a result of “if I am nervous, I will not win.” All through the promotion (the struggle was initially scheduled for February 17 earlier than Fury suffered a extreme lower in sparring) Usyk has laughed at Fury’s makes an attempt at thoughts video games.
On Saturday, Usyk will face a way more troublesome activity: handing Fury his first loss. Usyk has defeated elite massive males earlier than, like Joshua, however by no means somebody with Fury’s dimension and ability. Fury is 6 toes 9 inches (2.06 meters) tall and has a attain of 85 inches. He’s additionally able to boxing from each the left-handed stance and the orthodox stance.
Usyk, a left-hander, stands 6 toes 3 inches (1.91) and has a attain of 78 inches. That is the primary struggle for the undisputed heavyweight championship since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in November 1999. Each have been within the entrance row on the weigh-in, together with heavyweight legends Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is the mayor of kyiv.
Fury will put his linear and WBC championship on the road. Fury has been boxing’s lineal heavyweight champion since he defeated Klitschko in 2015.
