Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: Who’s the Heavyweight King?

Tyson Fury stepped onto the scales at a career-heaviest 20st 1lb for his heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk scheduled for Saturday at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dressed in a leather jacket and white trousers, the British boxer outweighed his Ukrainian opponent by four stone. Usyk wearing a tracksuit recorded a weight of 16st 1lb, five pounds lighter than in their first encounter which he won via split decision.

During the weigh-in, Fury displayed a calm demeanor but appeared eager to leave, facing off with Usyk for only a few seconds a stark contrast to their 11-minute stare-down a day earlier. Fury avoided on-camera interviews after the weigh-in while Usyk when asked how he felt, replied tersely, “nothing.” Promoter Frank Warren predicted an exciting showdown expressing confidence in both fighters’ preparation to deliver something extraordinary.

Meanwhile, controversies surrounding the bout created additional intrigue. Fury claimed his beard provides him with added strength, sparking debates over boxing rules that limit facial hair length to prevent cushioning punches. Although officials cleared Fury’s beard during a rules meeting, Usyk’s team vowed to challenge the decision further. Judge Fernando Barbosa’s illness prevented him from traveling to the event, prompting disagreements over his replacement. Warren proposed resolving the issue with a coin toss to decide the final lineup.

Despite the fight attracting less local interest in Saudi Arabia compared to the attention it might generate in the UK, both fighters stand to earn massive paydays due to Saudi investment. Reports estimate a combined purse of £150m with Tyson Fury expected to take a larger share. He reportedly earned £85m from their previous fight, significantly more than Usyk’s £35m. The fight promises to settle lingering questions about who truly reigns supreme in the heavyweight division.