British boxer Tyson Fury turned away, not looking at Oleksandr Usyk when they met before the unification match of the four most prestigious heavyweight belts on May 18.
During the meeting in Riyadh on the evening of May 16, Fury looked straight ahead and made many poses for the media, but did not do the traditional face-to-face pose with Usyk. The Ukrainian kept a cold gaze on his opponent for a few minutes, then did the obligatory photo shoots while raising his fists and flexing his biceps.
On social media, many fans believed that this move was a sign of fear rather than a psychological attack by Fury. “Fury has lost,” one person wrote. “Fury is nervous, scared and dare not look Usyk in the face,” another commented.
Fury avoided looking at Usyk during the face-to-face ceremony ahead of the unification match of the world’s four most prestigious heavyweight belts. Video: Riyadh Season
Afterwards, the two fighters sat down for a press conference without any heated exchanges. “Usyk looks intimidating,” Fury half-joked when asked why he didn’t look at his opponent. “I’m just here to relax and wait to get in the ring. All the talking is done, all the interviews are done. I’m really relaxed and focused.”
“I’m excited. Let’s make history,” Usyk said. Fury then replied: “I’ll keep it short and sweet. I want to thank Usyk for challenging me. I want to put on a show. There’s nothing to say, other than I’m ready to win. Easy or hard, I’m ready.”
When asked for his final message, Usyk said: “Let your hands do the talking in the ring.”
Carl Frampton, a former two-weight world champion, downplayed Fury’s refusal to meet him and said the Briton was serious, focused and ready for a fight to unify the four most prestigious heavyweight belts.
Tyson Fury trains in Riyadh on May 15, preparing for his heavyweight boxing title unification match with Oleksandr Usyk on May 17. Photo: AFP
“I like it. I don’t think there’s much more to say. They’re both very confident and know it’s going to be a tough fight,” Frampton told Sky Sports. “I don’t believe in pre-fight stuff like who looks at each other the longest or who unifies the four most prestigious heavyweight belts. I think it’s decided on the night.”
Fury currently holds the WBC heavyweight title, while Usyk holds the WBA, IBF and WBO belts. If he wins the May 18 bout, the winner will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 and the first in the four-belt era.
In February 2020, Fury won the WBC title from Deontay Wilder by knockout, then knocked out his opponent in the rematch in 2021. He then had two consecutive technical knockout victories over Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora to defend the title.
Meanwhile, Usyk surprised everyone with two consecutive victories over Anthony Joshua to win the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO belts. In August 2023, the Ukrainian boxer knocked out Daniel Dubois in the ninth round to defend these belts.
Fury during a training session in Riyadh on July 15. Photo: AFP
Fury and Usyk had originally agreed to a first heavyweight unification bout in December 2023 with a rematch in 2024. The fight was pushed back to February 17, 2024, after Fury suffered an injury in a fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. But the fight was postponed again when Fury suffered an eye injury and was pushed back to May 18.
According to British media, Fury will pocket around $150 million with a higher profit share of the fight. Usyk will earn around $65 million – less than the $75 million he will receive for the 2022 Joshua rematch.
