{"id":118816,"date":"2024-05-15T09:27:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T15:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=118816"},"modified":"2024-05-15T09:27:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T15:27:32","slug":"heavyweight-history-will-be-made-soon-in-the-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/heavyweight-history-will-be-made-soon-in-the-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavyweight History Will Be Made Soon in The Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heavyweight History Will Be Made Soon in The Kingdom<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Top Rank<\/p>\n

Photos Mikey Williams<\/p>\n

#RiyadhSeason<\/em><\/p>\n

WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and WBO\/IBF\/WBA ruler Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) will battle for the undisputed heavyweight crown this Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The winner becomes the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis accomplished that feat in 1999.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday at Boulevard Riyadh City, the main event combatants and undercard fighters made their grand arrivals. The pageantry was befitting one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights in modern memory, a long-simmering rivalry that will play out in four days.<\/p>\n

Fury has been the WBC champion since defeating Deontay Wilder on their second clash in 2020 and is coming off last October’s decision over Francis Ngannou in Riyadh. Usyk survived a tough challenge before knocking out Daniel Dubois in the ninth round last August in Poland. After a Fury cut suffered in sparring scuttled their original Feb. 17 fight date, the world’s top heavyweights are finally in the same location.<\/p>\n

The Fury-Usyk card is available on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV in the United States beginning at 12 p.m. ET\/9 a.m. PT.<\/p>\n

The pay-per-view undercard features a pair of world title fights. In the co-feature, cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) puts his belt on the line against Mairis Breidis (28-2, 20 KOs), the man he dethroned for the world title in July 2022. The vacant IBF world title will also be at stake in this highly anticipated rematch.<\/p>\n

The fighting pride of Wales, Joe Cordina (17-0, 9 KOs), defends his strap against Belfast native Anthony Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs).<\/p>\n

At Tuesday’s grand arrivals, this is what Fury, Usyk, and Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum had to say.<\/p>\n

Tyson Fury<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels absolutely fantastic to be in the great Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I\u2019m feeling fantastic. I can\u2019t wait to put a good show on. There\u2019s so many people coming. It\u2019s such an event. All the big stars are here. It\u2019s going to be epic. I can\u2019t wait for Saturday night.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I was fighting an old dosser on Saturday night who had five fights and lost them all, it would be very important to me. Every fight I\u2019ve ever had is important to me. Every little fight along the way was important to me. I believe that every left and right turn I\u2019ve ever taken in my life, every time I\u2019ve fallen over, and every time I\u2019ve climbed up was all leading to this moment. It\u2019s destiny.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

“I predict that somebody’s ‘0’ has got to go. And it’s going to be that team over there, unfortunately for them. Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter. Olympic gold medalist, cruiserweight world champion, heavyweight world champion. But, unfortunately for him, he has to come against the great Tyson Fury in the era of me. I’m really looking forward to Saturday night.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEven if he had 20 million people screaming his name, they cannot fight for him on the night. And when there’s two men in there on the night, it’s going to be very daunting when he has the undertaker in the ring with him.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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Oleksandr Usyk<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I feel good. I’m very happy to be here. Saturday is a special day because I will have the opportunity to become undisputed for a second time. It’s great. It’s very good for me. It’s very important for my country. I like that.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I have a plan. It’s a better plan. And it’s a great plan.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I really appreciate the support from my fans and Ukrainian soldiers. I love my fans.”<\/em><\/p>\n

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Bob Arum<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Unfortunately, we don\u2019t see enough of these events in boxing. The undisputed heavyweight championship of the world occurs so infrequently that it\u2019s almost like a blue moon coming. And now, on Saturday night, we will have the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world here in Riyadh. And that means that after this fight, there is one ‘Baddest Man on the Planet,’ the undisputed heavyweight champion. That means everything in the sport of boxing. That means everything for fans who love boxing.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Saturday, May 18<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top Rank on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View (12 p.m. ET\/9 a.m. PT)<\/p>\n

Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, 12 rounds, Undisputed Heavyweight World Title<\/p>\n

Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis 2, 12 rounds, Vacant IBF and Opetaia’s Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Titles<\/p>\n

Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace, 12 rounds, Cordina’s IBF Junior Lightweight World Title<\/p>\n

Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel, 12 rounds, WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator<\/p>\n

Moses Itauma vs. Ilja Mezencev, 10 rounds, Vacant WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title<\/p>\n

Mark Chamberlain vs. Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab, 12 rounds, Vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Title<\/p>\n

Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Sirwan Safar, 10 rounds, Cruiserweight<\/p>\n

Daniel Lapin vs. Octavio Pudivtr, 10 rounds, Vacant WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title<\/p>\n

# # #<\/p>\n

MEDIA CONTACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Top Rank<\/p>\n

Evan Korn: ekorn@toprank.com<\/p>\n

Melissa Takimoglu (UK): melissa@toprank.com<\/p>\n

ESPN\/ESPN+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ardi Dwornik: 347-702-0742 \/ ardi.r.dwornik@espn.com<\/p>\n

Michael Skarka: Michael.Skarka@espn.com<\/p>\n

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Heavyweight History Will Be Made Soon in The Kingdom By Top Rank Photos Mikey Williams #RiyadhSeason WBC champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and WBO\/IBF\/WBA ruler [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n

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