Oleksandr Usyk has devoted nearly a decade to preparing for his upcoming heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury, a fight set to take place on February 17 in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed world titles. Usyk’s motivation stems from Fury’s 2015 victory over his friend Wladimir Klitschko, and he has been diligently training for this showdown since then.
“I’ve been preparing for this fight for a few years now, since he beat Wladimir. He didn’t know about me back then because I wasn’t famous in the world of boxing, but I have been preparing for him and Anthony Joshua from the very beginning. Since I started professional boxing,” Usyk shared.
TNT Sports promises an exciting year for boxing enthusiasts in 2024, featuring the highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk match. The fight is not only a technical encounter but also a battle of heart, representing the pinnacle of Usyk’s sports career.
Fury’s journey to this showdown includes overcoming challenges, from derailing plans for a Klitschko rematch due to a failed drug test to battling weight gain and mental health issues. Yet, he regained the world champion status with a knockout against Deontay Wilder in 2020.
Reflecting on the upcoming clash, Usyk emphasized its significance: “It’s the most important fight of my sports career and the most in my sporting life. People want to see this, they want to see Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in the ring to be the undisputed champion, and we need to give people this because they deserve this.”
Despite controversy in Usyk’s last defense against Daniel Dubois, where a low blow marred the fight, both fighters are determined to deliver a compelling performance. Fury, acknowledging Usyk’s stature, commented, “He’s an average-sized man, 6’3″ and 16 stone. It is what it is; we are going to go in there and punch the s*** out of each other.” The fight promises to be a clash of titans, eagerly anticipated by boxing enthusiasts worldwide.