Explainers

TYSON FURY faces Oleksandr Usyk in the first undisputed heavyweight title clash since 1999!Fury suffered a nasty gash above his right eye in sparring to see his original clash with Usyk on February 17 go up in smoke as a result.Tyson Fury has lost a stone from his last fight for this oneCredit: ReutersFury holds the WBC title in boxing’s glamour division, while Usyk is in possession of the WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine straps. The pair have been on a collision course to fight for 18 months, following Usyk’s rematch win over Anthony Joshua in August 2022. Fury only just overcame boxing debutant and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou last October, as he was knocked down in stunning fashion before going on to win the bout on points. And Fury’s latest scuffle in sparring with heavyweight Agron Smakici, which saw an 11-stitch cut open up below his eyebrow, will be another confidence booster for Usyk. The Ukrainian is looking become the first man in history to win undisputed titles at both cruiserweight and heavyweight – and he’s just one win away. A victory for Fury, on the other hand, would set up an all-British mega-bout with Anthony Joshua.Tyson Fury suffered a cut that postponed the Usyk fight from its original date on February 17Credit: X @QueensburyWhen is Fury vs Usyk?
Fury vs Usyk will take place on Saturday, May 18 after the original date of February 17 was postponed.
The fight will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Expect main event ring-walks to get going from around 11pm BST, with the main card likely to start from 6pm BST.
What happened at the weigh-in?Tyson Fury weighed in over a stone LIGHTER than his last fight against Francis Ngannou.Most read in BoxingFury weighed in at 262lbs – 15lbs less than his 277lbs vs Ngannou in October.While Oleksandr Usyk weighed in at 233lbs – a career high and nearly a stone HEAVIER than in his last fight against Daniel Dubois in August.Fury and Usyk clashed at their tense weigh inCredit: ReutersWhat channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
Fury vs Usyk will be broadcast on THREE channels here in the UK.
You can watch the clash on TNT Sports Box Office, Sky Sports Box Office and on DAZN PPV.
A price for the event has yet to be confirmed.
You can stream the action from the TNT Sports Box Office app, Sky Sports Box Office app, or the DAZN app, all of which are available onto your mobile, tablet and Smart TV.
Who are their trainers?Fury has once again prepared for the bout with long-time trainer SugarHill Steward.The pair first teamed up for his second fight against Deontay Wilder in 2020 following the Brit’s split from Ben Davison.Steward now lives in Morecambe in order to train Fury in the town instead of having to travel to the USA for his training camps.The former police officer and chef is also the nephew of Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward and previously worked with the likes of Charles Martin at his uncle’s Kronk Gym.Steward recently split from unbeaten British light-heavyweight Ben Whittaker after coaching him since 2022.Meanwhile, Usyk is trained by Anatoly Lomachenko, the father of fellow Ukrainian fighter Vasiliy.He first teamed up with Lomachenko in 2017 after parting ways with former trainer James Ali Bashir.Lomachenko is a former trainer of the year and also coaches his son out of the same gym in Oxnard, California.Vasiliy is the current IBF and IBO world lightweight champion after beating George Kambosos Jr via technical knockout last weekend.What belts are on the line?The first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis will be crowned on Saturday.It will also be the first time a fighter has held all the heavyweight titles in the four-belt era.Fury’s WBC title is on the line, whilst Usyk is defending his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA (Super) belts.What happened in Fury’s last fight?The Gypsy King last fought in October as he laboured to a controversial split decision victory over Francis Ngannou.He was even knocked down by a left hook from the former UFC champion in the third round.Ngannou had been making his professional boxing debut and has since been knocked out by Joshua in his second bout.Fortunately for Fury, his WBC world title was not on the line.Instead he claimed the WBC Commemorative Riyadh belt as he moved to 34-0-1 with the points win.What happened in Usyk’s last fight?Usyk’s previous fight was also not without controversy, although he won in more convincing fashion.The Cat was leading on the scorecards before securing a ninth round KO victory over Daniel Dubois in Poland last August.His stoppage was the 14th of his professional career to take his record to 21-0.However, Usyk had to survive being floored by a controversial low blow.He was left shaking in agony and stayed down for almost four minutes after being caught just below the belt line by Dubois.SunSport predictionFury and Usyk have established themselves as the two best heavyweights on the planet in recent years.Neither fighter has lost as a professional let alone been finished, with the judges likely to be required this weekend.Fury has shown his durability by taking heavy blows against both Wilder and Ngannou, but it is unclear if these have weakened his chin enough for Usyk to capitalise.The Ukrainian has never been knocked down as a pro but has been far less prolific at finishing fights since moving up to heavyweight.His stoppage of Dubois is his only knockout victory in five fights since leaving the cruiserweight division.SunSport prediction – Usyk on pointsTyson Fury trash talk, Usyk ‘the perfectionist’ and how his sparring partners are all 7ft tall Sun Sport previews Ring of FireFury vs Usyk full cardHere are all of the confirmed fights set to take place on the undercard:
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – undisputed WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles
Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis – vacant IBF cruiserweight title
Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace – IBF super-featherweight title
Agit Kabayel vs Frank Sanchez
Sergey Kovalev vs Robin Sirwan Safar
Mark Chamberlain vs Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab
Moses Itauma vs Ilja Mezencev
David Nyika vs Michael Seitz
Isaac Lowe vs Hasibullah Ahmadi
Fury and Usyk have been in negotiations to fight since December 2022Credit: ReutersWhat has been said?”I just smiled,” Usyk said upon hearing of the postponement news.”And said ‘OK – I will finish my training and I will do my work stretching my back’.”Tyson. Hi, my brother. Don’t be afraid. I will not leave you alone.”I’m still happy – things happen, it’s life,” he said.”I’m very happy because I now go to Ukraine. I see my two daughters and my wife. I go to my church and pray. A little bit of rest and back to my camp.”Fury said of the postponement: “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.”I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” More

TYSON FURY takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a huge undisputed title clash on Saturday night.The two heavyweights will go head-to-head in Saudi Arabia and put their unbeaten records on the line.Fury and Usyk will go head-to-head in RiyadhCredit: GETTYFour major world titles will be up for grabs for the first time with Fury holding the WBC strap while Usyk possesses the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.The huge showdown was originally scheduled for February, but the Gyspy King received a bad cut to the eye, forcing him to postpone the bout.Whoever loses on the night will have the opportunity to activate a rematch clause – but when is part two expected to take place?When is Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch taking place?SunSport understands a TWO-WAY clause in place, meaning both men – should they lose – can contractually trigger a rematch.READ MORE IN BOXINGAnd Saudi boxing chief, H.E. Turki Alalshikh, has confirmed that Fury vs Usyk part two has been pencilled in for the weekend of October 12/13.Alalshikh plans to have the rematch to kick off another Riyadh Season.Will all heavyweight titles be on the line in the rematch?Should the rematch take place between Fury and Usyk, they won’t be competing for all the heavyweight titles.That is because the winner of the undisputed bout will be stripped of the IBF strap in order for mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic to finally compete for it.Most read in BoxingIt is not yet know when the belt will be stripped from the eventual winner, but it will happen before Hrgovic takes on Brit Daniel Dubois on June 1. More

TYSON FURY will meet Oleksandr Usyk in a huge undisputed heavyweight title clash on Saturday night.The two stars will put their unbeaten records on the line in what is set to be one of the biggest fights of the decade.Whoever comes out victorious will become the first undisputed heavyweight champ in the four-belt era.Fury currently holds the WBC title while Usyk possesses the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.The Gypsy King’s last outing came against Francis Ngannou back in October, which the Mancunian won by split decision in controversial fashion.Usyk has not been in action since his knockout victory over Brit Daniel Dubois eight months ago.READ MORE IN BOXINGWhat time are the ring-walks for Fury vs Usyk and when does the fight start?
The ring-walks for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk are expected at approximately 11pm BST.
The main event will get underway at approximately 11.15pm BST.
Timings could be subject to change depending on the length of the undercard fights.
The undercard is set to begin at 5pm BST.
What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
Fury vs Usyk will be broadcast on THREE channels here in the UK.
You can watch the clash on TNT Sports Box Office, Sky Sports Box Office and on DAZN PPV.
A price for the event has yet to be confirmed.
You can stream the action from the TNT Sports Box Office app, Sky Sports Box Office app, or the DAZN app, all of which are available onto your mobile, tablet and Smart TV.
Fury vs Usyk full cardHere are all of the confirmed fights set to take place on the undercard:
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – undisputed WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles
Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis – vacant IBF cruiserweight title
Joe Cordina vs Anthony Cacace – IBF super-featherweight title
Agit Kabayel vs Frank Sanchez
Sergey Kovalev vs Robin Sirwan Safar
Mark Chamberlain vs Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab
Moses Itauma vs Ilja Mezencev
David Nyika vs Michael Seitz
Isaac Lowe vs Hasibullah Ahmadi
Most read in Boxing More