Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: The Ultimate Guide to Watching the Heavyweight Showdown

Finally, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will be facing each other in the ring this Saturday. It has been a highly anticipated matchup in the world of sports.

After much anticipation and several canceled fights, the two boxers will finally have the chance to compete for the title of the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. This fight will also determine the division's first undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

Here’s everything you need to know about their fight.

How to watch

Fury and Usyk are set to headline the event on Saturday, May 18, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The undercard will kick off at 12 p.m. ET, while the main event ringwalks are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.

The fight will be broadcast worldwide by DAZN, with viewers in the US having the option to watch it on ESPN's pay-per-view service. In the UK, the fight will be shown on pay-per-view platforms by both We and TNT Sports.

This highly anticipated fight has been in the works for quite some time.

A showdown between Fury and Usyk has been eagerly anticipated for some time now. Fury, who has faced tough opponents like Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, and Deontay Wilder in a trilogy, currently holds the WBC heavyweight title.

In the other corner is Usyk, who had already dominated the cruiserweight division and then moved up to heavyweight, where he won and defended the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles against Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

While boxing fans have often voiced their disappointment about the top fighters not facing each other, rumors started circulating in March that the two camps were nearing an agreement for a fight in April.

Fury and Usyk have seemed destined to face one another after years of success for both fighters.

Fury and Usyk have seemed destined to face one another after years of success for both fighters.

A date of December 23 was initially set for the fight between Fury and Ngannou. However, due to a tough battle that Fury had against Ngannou, who is a former UFC heavyweight champion, the fight had to be postponed until February 2024.

On the eve of the second date, the fight was postponed again because the Briton got a cut above his eye during a sparring session. Despite missing his daughter's birth due to fight preparations, the Ukrainian shared that the fight will go on after being rescheduled twice.

All on the line

A general view of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk speaking to the media on May 16, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

A general view of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk speaking to the media on May 16, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Besides the four heavyweight world titles, a lot is on the line in this match. The victor will be hailed as one of the greatest heavyweights of his time.

Both fighters have undefeated records that are on the line. Fury has won 34 matches and had one draw since starting his professional career, while Usyk has emerged victorious in all 21 of his fights.

Usyk, 37 years old, holds the third spot for best pound-for-pound boxer in the world according to The Ring magazine. If he becomes the undisputed world heavyweight champion, it would solidify his status as the top fighter in the division.

On the other hand, a win for Fury could help him bounce back from his disappointing performance against Ngannou in October. It might also pave the way for an anticipated, high-profile, all-British bout against former heavyweight champion Joshua.

Fury has a physical advantage over Usyk, being taller at 6-feet-9-inches with a longer reach of 85 inches compared to Usyk who is 6-feet-3-inches with a reach of 78 inches.

The fight is expected to be strategic, with both boxers being cautious and trying to find weaknesses in each other's defense.

At a news conference in Riyadh, Fury’s message to Usyk was: “God bless him. I’ll say a prayer for him before the fight and for us both to get out of the ring safely.”

Editor's P/S:

The highly anticipated showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is a testament to the allure and excitement of boxing. The sport has always been characterized by its larger-than-life personalities and intense rivalries, and this fight promises to deliver on all fronts.

The stakes are incredibly high, with the winner being crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Both Fury and Usyk have proven themselves to be exceptional fighters, and their contrasting styles make for an intriguing matchup. Fury's size and power will be a challenge for Usyk, while Usyk's speed and technical prowess will test Fury's resilience. It's a clash of styles that could produce a truly memorable fight.