Tyson Fury vowed to deliver a “fight for the ages” as his “historic” clash with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title was confirmed for February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
British star Fury will put his WBC belt on the line, with the WBA, IBF and WBO titles held by Ukraine’s Usyk also up for grabs in Riyadh.
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The winner will be crowned the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis from 1999 to 2000.
Fury, 35, and Usyk, 36, were originally expected to clash on December 23. But Fury’s disappointing performance in a split-decision victory over MMA star Francis Ngannou last month forced a delay to the hotly-anticipated bout.
He was left with a swollen eye and cut on the forehead after the contentious win against Ngannou.
Fury had already been criticised for failing to agree a deal with Usyk when a proposed meeting at Wembley in April could not be confirmed.
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.”
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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’m going to bust him up. You know what’s coming? You’re getting smashed to pieces. You’re fighting the best British heavyweight there’s ever been.
“It’s been 24 years since we’ve had an undisputed champion. The Klitschkos were champions for around 10 years, so there’s been 14 years when the other heavyweights couldn’t do it.
“I’m destined to become the undisputed champion, and more than that, cement my legacy as the number one fighter of this era.”
Usyk is aiming to emulate Evander Holyfield by becoming undisputed heavyweight champion having already conquered the cruiserweight division.
He kept his cool amid Fury’s insults, which included calling him an “ugly little man” and labelling him a “rabbit” and a “sausage”.
“Yes I’m a little man. I’ll speak in the ring,” Usyk said.
“Every time Tyson Fury speaks a lot. For me it doesn’t matter.”
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 titleholder since defeating Anthony Joshua in 2021.
The Ukrainian has defended his titles twice, defeating Joshua by split decision in Saudi Arabia last year and knocking out Daniel Dubois in August.
Saudi Arabia has staged several leading boxing events in recent years, including Usyk’s win over Anthony Joshua in 2022.
The Gulf State has been accused of using sport to improve its international reputation after widespread criticism for its human rights record.
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