After Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk finally meet in the ring this weekend, boxing should have its first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly a quarter…
After Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk finally meet in the ring this weekend, boxing should have its first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly a quarter-century.
These are the two best fighters from a strong era of heavyweight boxing. Both have reached their mid-30s still undefeated, and both are determined to reach the pinnacle of their careers by winning every major title belt in their division — a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Lennox Lewis did it in 1999.
“Not only will we be crowning the undisputed heavyweight champion, but the two participants in the fight have never, ever lost a fight,” promoter Bob Arum said. “Now, how rare is that?”
Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) has held three of the world’s major titles for nearly three years, while Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) holds the fourth after a career in which he has worn all four championship belts at different points.
They’ve circled a winner-take-all meeting for years — and after false starts, detours and delays, they’re finally together for a fight that will happen deep into Sunday morning in Saudi Arabia to reach a Western audience on Saturday.
“I’m ready for a good fight,” Fury said. “And if it’s tough or easy, either way, I’ll be ready.”
The last heavyweight to hold all four major belts was Lewis, who beat Evander Holyfield in 1999 by unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
