BOXING

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: the fight of the century

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will unify the heavyweight division for the first time in the four-belt era in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will witness a unique event in boxing history. The heavyweight division will be unified for the first time in the four-belt era. Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KO) and Oleksandr Usyk (21-0-0, 14 KO) will collide today with both men looking to become the division’s undisputed champion. A fight that has had a few setbacks along the way.

Boxing is currently ruled by four organizations: the World Boxing Association (WBA, founded in 1921), the World Boxing Council (WBC, founded in 1963), the International Boxing Federation (IBF, founded in 1976) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO, founded in 1988).

Since all four coexist, no heavyweight has ever held the category’s four belts. The British Lennox Lewis was the king of three in 1999 (WBA, WBC, and IBF) when the WBO wasn’t as prestigious as it is now.

Each organization has an official belt (without considering the interim ones and other variations) for each weight, and a boxer is the undisputed champion when he has all four of the same category. That fighter is the best in everyone’s eyes and, in the era of the four belts, no heavyweight has managed to get that status. Today’s fight will go down in the boxing history books.

Fury vs Usyk: a fight for the ages

Right now, the biggest representatives of the heavyweight division are Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. The Gypsy King, the WBC champion, is, for many, the best, an idol who has his documentary on Netflix and sells out stadiums in the United Kingdom, with fans eagerly waiting to see him fight.

The other star of the night burst into the division in great style but without making a big impact, after having dominated the cruiserweight division. He defeated the unified champion Anthony Joshua (28-3-0, 25 KO) twice to capture the WBA, WBO, and the IBF titles, in addition to the IBO (a minor belt, but one that will also be at stake).

It took a lot to reach an agreement for the fight to happen. Usyk wanted a rematch clause, and Fury asked for more money. The fight was on standby until Turki Al-Sheikh, minister of Saudi Arabia, appeared. The Arab sheik wants to bring the best fights to the country and is making it possible it with million-dollar purses that no boxer is ready to refuse.

The fight was scheduled for February 17, but the Briton was injured during a sparring session with a cut under his right eyebrow, due to an elbow clash. Fury required medical assistance, so the fight had to be postponed until today. The expectation, like the tension, is flying high.

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