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Mike Coppinger
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Nick Parkinson
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Nick Parkinson
- Reports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will meet for the chance to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view, noon ET).
Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs), is the WBC and lineal champion. Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) has the WBA, IBF and WBO belts. The last time boxing had an undisputed heavyweight champion was in 2000 (Lennox Lewis, three-belt era).
Ahead of Saturday’s fight, Fury seems to be in much better shape than he was when he had to pick himself up off the canvas in October in a split-decision victory against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
“It’s the fight of the century,” Fury told ESPN on Wednesday. “[An undisputed heavyweight championship fight] has never happened this century before, and we’re looking forward to putting on a fantastic show.”
The fight was scheduled for February before Fury suffered a bad cut over his right eye during a sparring session. Usyk last fought in August, a ninth-KO win over Daniel Dubois in a fight where he seemed to be down by a body shot in Round 5 that referee Luis Pabon ruled as a low blow.
“Saturday is a special day because I will have the opportunity to become undisputed for a second time,” Usyk said. It’s great. It’s very good for me. It’s very important for my country. I like that.”
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