Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to face off in a highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title clash on February 17 in Saudi Arabia. The bout, known as the ‘Ring of Fire,’ will determine the ultimate champion between WBC title-holder Fury and unified WBA, WBO, and IBF champion Usyk.
INTO THE FIRE.
𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐃 👑🔥#FuryUsyk | FEB 17 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabi pic.twitter.com/0e83ycGiYi
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 16, 2023
During the London press conference, the confident Fury, aged 35, declared, “Usyk, you can run, but the Gypsy King is coming to get you. This is my era, and your time is up. Your undefeated record and your belts, they will be mine!” In response, Usyk, aged 36, stated, “I have no goal. The only way, and my way is ‘The Undisputed.’ That is why this was the only fight for me. When that bell rings, I will bring the fire.”
Initially scheduled for December 23, the clash was postponed after Fury’s split-decision victory over Francis Ngannou last month. Boxing enthusiasts can now anticipate two thrilling nights of heavyweight action, with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder featuring in December before Fury and Usyk’s February showdown.
Promoter Frank Warren expressed the significance of this match, saying, “For the first time this century, we will have an undisputed heavyweight champion,” highlighting the long-awaited nature of this bout.
Despite Fury’s controversial win over Ngannou, promoter Bob Arum assures fans that the Gypsy King will be in prime condition for the upcoming fight. Usyk, a Ukrainian powerhouse, unified three titles with a unanimous decision win over Joshua in September and secured a knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in August.
Fury, who claimed the belt from Wilder in 2020 and defended it against him in a 2021 rematch, further solidified his standing with stoppage wins over Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora last year. The stage is now set for a historic clash between Fury and Usyk to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.