Boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years goes up against the man he beat to claim the crown once again as Oleksandr Usyk faces Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
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Usyk (22-0) claimed a split decision win in their first fight, and now puts up all of his titles except the IBF belt, which he vacated and is now held by Daniel Dubois.
Fury (34-1-1) is hoping to avenge his only professional loss, with a reported $US190 million purse and potential trilogy fight at stake.
READ: How Fury vs Usyk could end boxing’s decade-long debate… and set up blockbuster Aussie bout
The full Usyk vs Fury 2 event is available to watch on Sunday December 22 in Australia – tune into the fight at your favourite pub/venue.
The card begins at 2:30am AEDT Sunday, with Usyk and Fury to make their ring walks for the main event around 9am AEDT Sunday (estimated).
You can follow every big moment live on Foxsports.com.au. It’s also available via streaming on DAZN.
FULL USYK vs FURY 2 FIGHT CARD
Oleksandr Usyk (c) vs. Tyson Fury 2 for the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, 12 x 3-minute rounds
Serhii Bohachuk vs. Israil Madrimov, final eliminator for the WBO super welterweight championship, 12 x 3-minute rounds
Moses Itauma vs. Demsey McKean, WBO inter-continental heavyweight championship, 10 x 3-minute rounds
Dennis McCann vs Peter McGrail, British superbantamweight championship, 12 x 3-minute rounds
Johnny Fisher vs. Dave Allen, vacant WBC inter-continental heavyweight championship, 10 x 3-minute rounds
Isaac Lowe vs. Lee McGregor, vacant WBC interntional featherweight championship, 10 x 3-minute rounds
Daniel Lapin vs Dylan Colin, vacant WBA continental light-heavyweight championship, 10 x 3-minute rounds
Andrii Novytskyi vs Edgar Ramirez, WBC international heavyweight championship, 10 x 3-minute rounds
Fury FOLDS under Usyk barrage | 01:11
FIGHT PREVIEW
Tyson Fury weighed in at the heaviest of his career on Friday as he vowed to go to war with Oleksandr Usyk in their world title rematch.
The Englishman, albeit fully clothed, tipped the scales at 281 pounds (127.4kg) — 19lb heavier than when he lost to the Ukrainian in their unification bout in May.
Usyk, also dressed against the winter chill at Riyadh’s Wonder Garden amusement park, weighed 226lb, 2.5lb heavier than seven months ago.
Fury’s added weight shows he’s out to physically dominate the smaller Usyk on Saturday. He offered only one word — “war” — to the interviewer as he left the stage.
“When a 20 stone (280lb) man hits you on the jaw, compared to a man at 17 stone, it’s a bit different,” Fury told Sky Sports earlier.
The 36-year-old “Gypsy King” desperately needs the win to erase his sole career defeat at the hands of the mobile, elusive Usyk in Riyadh in May.
The first unification bout of the four-belt era was decided by a narrow split-decision, although Fury was saved by the bell after a standing eight count in the ninth round.
Only three belts — IBO, WBC and WBO — are up for grabs after Usyk vacated the IBF title to focus on the rematch, instead of facing mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
The Ukrainian has already amassed one of the great boxing careers after winning Olympic gold and becoming undisputed cruiserweight champion before stepping up to heavyweight.
A low-key build-up ignited on Thursday when the two fighters faced off for a marathon 11 minutes at their press conference, despite attempts to separate them.
On Friday, they faced each other for just a few seconds before parting. Usyk, 37, comes in undefeated at 22-0 with 14 knock-outs, while 6ft 9ins (206cm) Fury, the taller man by six inches (15cm), is 34-1-1 with 24 KOs.
Victory for Usyk — briefly a soldier after the Russian invasion — would be a fillip for his embattled country after nearly three years of war with its giant neighbour.
Saturday’s fight is just the latest high-profile sports event bankrolled by oil money in Saudi Arabia, confirmed this month as host of the 2034 football World Cup.
Formula One, LIV Golf, top tennis and a parade of senior football stars are among the recent acquisitions as the world’s top oil exporter tries to diversify its crude-reliant economy and update its ultra-conservative image.
Earlier, according to reports, there was good news for Fury when the pre-fight rules meeting decided he would not have to shave off his bushy beard, despite concerns from Usyk’s team that it could cushion punches.
“He has a beard and there’s been a lot of fighters over the years who’ve fought with beards, and that’s it,” promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports.
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