The historic fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 is coming up next weekend.
The rivals agreed to meet in the ring earlier this year but the clash had to be postponed due to an injury suffered by Fury.
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Fury vs Usyk is ready to finally take centre-stage this May
The Gypsy King endured a ‘freak cut’ during a sparring session just two weeks before the bout was scheduled to take place.
Usyk’s camp had been left with the impression it would be ‘several months’ before the Brit was ready to reschedule.
However, a new date was quickly put in the diary, much to the delight of boxing fans around the world who have waited so long for this fight.
And it means Fury and Usyk’s highly-anticipated bout for the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles is now just around the corner.
Fury vs Usyk: Date and start time
This 12-round undisputed heavyweight title clash will take place on Saturday, May 18.
The huge bout will be held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Start times and additional details are expected to be announced in due course, but the undercard is expected to get underway at 6pm UK time, with main event ringwalks around 11pm.
talkSPORT will have updates throughout fight week and talkSPORT.com will be running a live blog of all the action as well.
The event will be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office and Sky Sports PPV.
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All the heavyweight belts will be on the line when Usyk and Fury clashCredit: Top Rank
Matchroom boxing promoter Eddie Hearn does a U-turn on his Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk prediction as he previews the heavyweight showdown
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Fury is raring to goCredit: Getty
Fury vs Usyk: Undercard
Subject to change
MAIN EVENT: Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – for WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles
Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace – for IBF and IBO super-featherweight titles
Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis – for vacant IBF cruiserweight title
Mark Chamberlain vs Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab
Sergey Kovalev vs Robin Sirwan Safar
Isaac Lowe vs Hasibullah Ahmadi
David Nyika vs Michael Seitz
Moses Itauma vs Ilja Mezencev
Agit Kabayel vs Frank Sanchez
Fury vs Usyk: Tale of the tape
Nickname: The Gypsy King – The Cat
Hometown: Manchester, England – Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine
Record: 34–0–1 (24 KO) – 21–0 (14 KO)
Age: 35 – 37
Height: 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) – 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Reach: 85 in (216 cm) – 197 cm (78 in)
Style: Orthodox – Southpaw
Recognition: WBC and Lineal heavyweight champion – WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring heavyweight champion
Fury vs Usyk: What has been said?
Frank Warren expects Fury to put on a clinic against Usyk.
“It’s the best shape I’ve seen him in” Warren told talkSPORT Breakfast on Friday.
“I know mentally, which is the most important thing, he’s really up for this fight.
“Usyk, he’s beaten every Brit he’s been in with. He beat Tony Bellew, he stopped him, knocked him over. He beat AJ twice. So, he’s used to getting in there with big guys.
“AJ was a much bigger guy, but I just think Tyson is a totally different type of boxer. He can adapt and he is a really, extremely good ring craftsman. I see him stopping Usyk, that’s how I see it working out.
“One thing about Usyk is he doesn’t like shots to the body. That’s a fact.
“And he’s had a little bit of a moan about that to the referee and he’s always complaining to the referee.
“I think it will be like the second fight he had with Deontay Wilder where Tyson got Deontay Wilder’s number and just absolutely took him apart.
“I can see him doing the same thing here.”
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Fury cut his eye during a sparring session after an elbow
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Fury has warned Usyk that he’s going to face a true championCredit: Getty
But Tony Bellew believes the old version of Fury would fare far better against Usyk than the current iteration.
Speaking to Simon Jordan and Jim White on Thursday, Bellew said: “I think Tyson Fury stood the best chance of beating him when he was with his uncle Peter Fury because that’s when he was an unorthodox, big, awkward fighter who used his size and his attributes to his advantage.
“Now, he’s this fighter that loves to press fighters and look for a knockout under the brilliant SugarHill Steward at the Kronk.
“He’s a different fighter now, he’s someone that looks for the knockout and that’s music to Oleksandr Usyk’s ears.
“I know because I’ve been in there with him, the boy is exceptional at what he does.
“Don’t get me wrong there is another side to that coin.
“Tyson Fury could get on top and he might be too heavy but in my opinion and from my experience, Oleksandr Usyk is going to win wide on points.
“We have to put this into context, if Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury were the same size, this fight wouldn’t even be up for debate.”
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Prince Naseem thinks Fury will beat Usyk
And boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed believes Fury will beat Usyk on points.
“I’m hoping Tyson Fury is going to win that fight on points,” Prince Naseem told Drivetime on talkSPORT.
“I believe that if he stands up in the 12th round, he will get his hand raised, regardless of what’s going to happen.
“I think it’s going to be a hard fight. All I want him to do is stand on his feet.
“Stand on his feet at the 12th round at the end of it and, God willing, it should be a points win to him [Fury].”
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