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The first quarter and a half of 2024 has been great for the sweet science. On Saturday, May 18, the heavyweight clash we’ve all been waiting for will finally happen.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will battle for the undisputed heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the headline bout for the Ring of Fire event.
Thanks to the wide variety of viewing options, the Fury-Usyk clash has the potential to be one of the most-watched boxing events of the year.
Here’s how you can watch it.
- Date: Saturday, May 18
- Time: noon ET
- TV and Streaming: ESPN+ PPV, DAZN and PPV.com (no subscription required)
There will be three world title fights on Saturday, with IBF crowns getting a ton of attention. Here is a look at the top three fights scheduled for the card in Saudi Arabia.
- Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship
- Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace for Cordina’s IBF Junior Lightweight title
- Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis for the IBF vacant Cruiserweight title
Tyson Fury Appears to Be in Great Shape
Conditioning is always a question mark for Fury heading into any fight. He has been extremely heavy for fights with Deontay Wilder and was wildly out of shape against Francis Ngannou late in 2023.
However, Fury is aware of the challenge Usyk presents, and it appears he’s gotten himself into excellent condition for their fight on Saturday. While both men are set to weigh in on Friday, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Fury weighing less than 260 pounds.
If that comes to pass, it would be the first time Fury weighed under 260 pounds since he won a unanimous decision over Otto Wallin in 2019. That’s the fight he nearly lost because of a nasty cut over his left eye.
If Fury looks in less than excellent form, it probably won’t be an issue with conditioning. It’s more likely due to a potential erosion of skill or the brilliance and style mismatch Usyk brings into the ring.
Is Oleksandr Usyk Rattled?
Usyk has quite the poker face, but you have to wonder if the immenseness of the event and some of the pre-fight shenanigans have gotten under his skin.
On Monday, Fury’s father, John Fury, headbutted a 30-year-old man (previously believed to be a teenager) in Usyk’s camp, and there was a good amount of pushing and shoving.
Usyk has fought Anthony Joshua twice, but the energy around those fights didn’t approach the circus level that a bout with Fury can bring.
Beyond the in-ring specifics like size and reach, the main thing to watch with Usyk on Friday and Saturday night is his poise during the tense moments.
Fury’s mastery of psychological warfare is a well-known aspect of his strategy. How Usyk navigates this aspect could significantly influence his performance on Saturday.
No matter who wins, there will almost certainly be a rematch later this year. So, this is just the beginning of a Usyk-Fury saga that will captivate the boxing world for most of 2024.
Be on the lookout for fight night coverage on Saturday..
