- Undisputed Lineal Heavyweight Championship
- Date: Delayed to May 18, 2024
- Location: Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Main Card Time: 6 PM ET
- How to Watch Live: DAZN
Tale of the Tape: Main Event
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
- Age: Fury (34) | Usyk (32)
- Height: Fury (6’9”) | Usyk (6’3”)
- Reach: Fury (85”) | Usyk (78″)
- Record: Fury (31-0-1, 24 KOs) | Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs)
Update: Tyson Fury suffered a “freak cut” above his eye from an inadvertent elbow in sparring. The fight has been rescheduled to May 18.
Narratives and Predictions
Finally, like literally, a new era in boxing history will dawn upon us on February 17. The first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era will include The Ring Lineal championship. Tyson Fury will 🥃step into the ring again following a rather disappointing perform🌟ance against the baddest man on the planet, Francis Ngannou. Usyk has got to be foaming at the mouth right about now.
Tyson Fury is undeniably one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. That is inarguable. He is freakishly tall, deceptively athletic, awkwardly smooth, and at that size, any punch hurts. What is arguable is whether he won that fight against Ngannou. Now, while it wasn’t as much of a robbery as social media will claim, it wasn’t the landslide victory it should’ve been. So now we wonder if Ngannou is that good, or was Fury taking it too unserious? We’ll find out on Feb 17 when the Gypsy King tries to dispel the doubt brewing around his legacy and assert his place on the throne and in history.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian has held titles in two weight classes and has been a unified heavyweight champ since 2021. Fundamentally, he’s the most complete boxer in the heavyweight division. Usyk personifies what post-soviet boxing has become; with the likes of Lomachenko, their boxing IQ, footwork, and creativity with the lead hand is second to none, up there with the Cubans. Usyk made mince of Anthony Joshua, Dubois, and everyone who’s stepped in front of him. Usyk has been calling, damn near begging for this fight for quite some time, his conditioning has never been questioned, and in a bout of this magnitude, you can rest assured you’ll get the best Usyk we’ve seen yet.
The Odds
Our favorite sports book Draft Kings had Tyson Fury (-150) and Oleksandr Usyk (+120) prior to Tyson’s injury.
Prediction
Fury has got a lot to answer for. His conditioning coming into this fight, will be the deci🍸ding factor. Ngannou proved that hard work beats talent when talent stops working hard, and Usyk never stops. Fundamentally, the Ukrainian is the more complete boxer, but Tyson is a walking X Factor with a chin made of granite and a heart of lion meat. I expect the fight to go the distance and Usyk to outpoint Fury, despite the height and reach difference. If Usyk can avoid the canvas, the fight will be his for the taking.
Our Pick: Oleksandr Usyk
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