Usyk – Fury. What we know about the potential biggest fight of the decade

Record fees for fighters, the Middle East as a venue, the first heavyweight unification bout in 11 years, the chance to get the first undisputed champion in almost a quarter of a century – it’s all about a potential fight between WBA / WBO / IBF / IBO title holder in the Royal Division Alexander Usyk and WBC belt owner Tyson Fury. And although a possible duel has not been officially confirmed, everything goes to the fact that the fight Oleksandr Usyk – Tyson Fury will still take place. And it will be a truly historic event.

First heavyweight unification bout in decades

So far, the last heavyweight unification fight took place more than 11 years ago – in July 2011, Wladimir Klitschko, who owned the WBO / IBF / IBO championship titles, defeated the WBA title holder David Haye on points.

Further, Vladimir did not fight with his brother Vitali, who had a WBC belt, and Tyson Fury, who defeated Klitschko Jr., went to a duel against Deontay Wilder, who won the vacant title of the World Boxing Council after Klitschko Sr. retired, having already lost all his belts.

Everyone was waiting for a unification fight between Anthony Joshua, who took away the titles from Wladimir Klitschko, and then lost and returned in a duology with Ruiz, and the same Fury, who took the belt from Wilder, but Usyk intervened in the plans.

The first fight for the title of absolute world champion in almost a quarter of a century

There was no absolute world champion in heavyweight for 30 years – after Riddick Bowe, who defeated Evander Holyfield in November 1992, refused one of the belts, not wanting to carry out a mandatory defense. Some consider Lennox Lewis, who owned the WBA / WBC / IBF and minor IBO titles in 1999, to be the last absolute world champion in heavyweight, but then the World Boxing Organization (WBO) existed almost in full force, which held championship fights and played its title, although, admittedly, it did not have such authority as it is now.

No one has won the four main heavyweight belts. Now, finally, a chance to determine the King of the division and a real boxing legend has appeared.

Record fee

Usyk has already received it for the rematch with Joshua (according to unofficial data – about $ 40 million), but for the fight with Fury he can earn much more. Just like the Gypsy King himself. Interestingly, if Usyk and Joshua’s fee figures are correct, they have outperformed the most “expensive” fight in heavyweight history so far: the 1997 rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. Then, we recall, Holyfield received, according to various sources, from 35 to 39 million dollars, Tyson – 30 million.

But let’s get back to a possible duel between Usyk and Fury. Of course, the 500 million dollars demanded by the Briton is nonsense, but the boxers seem to be able to count on 80-100 million. In any case, the interest in the fight will be huge and definitely higher than in the Usyk-Joshua rematch. Yes, and sheikhs, who have tasted the charm of holding large-scale boxing matches, can fork out.

Revisiting the Middle East

Yes, if the Usyk-Fury fight takes place, it will most likely take place in the Middle East. The reason was mentioned above – the financial side of the battle, which not all promotional companies will be able to pull, and one cannot do without support here.

Saudi Arabia has already hosted two large-scale boxing events and, I think, will not refuse the third, historic one. And yes, it is this country that the sides of Usyk and Fury are called as the venue for a possible duel.

How likely is the Usyk-Fury fight?

Perhaps the best answer to this question is Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas.

“As far as I know, everyone has already agreed. Tyson Fury has already said he will fight Usyk. Of course, Alexander agrees to fight. He challenged Fury. A 100 percent chance of a fight can only be assessed when you enter the ring. This is boxing. I think that now the probability of a duel is 80 percent, ”Klimas said.

When can Usyk-Fury fight take place?

There is no clear answer. But, it is likely that at the beginning of next year. Firstly, Usyk needs at least a couple of months to recover from the rematch with Joshua: to repeat the experience of the end of 2017-2018, when Usyk had four (!) title fights in 14 months, two of which were unification, I think, the team Ukrainian does not want. Moreover, taking into account the fact that Alexander is now competing in the heavyweight division, which requires more time to rest.

On the other hand, Alexander is not very cool to stagnate either. Paying tribute to the transformation of Joshua, it should be noted that the long break, along with the war in Ukraine, definitely did not benefit Usyk – it was more difficult for him in the rematch than in the first fight.

As for Fury, who once again announced his retirement from boxing, the Briton, apparently, is training to keep fit. Moreover, judging by the video on social networks, it is not so much about banal jogging and exercising in the gym, but about serious boxing work. And if so, then he will not need too much time to prepare.

What the bookies say

Interestingly, analysts have already started accepting bets on the Usyk-Fury fight. Moreover, on the outcome of the confrontation, and not on the likelihood that the fight will take place.

And yes, today experts consider Fury to be the favorite of the fight. Bets on the victory of the Gypsy King are now accepted at the rate of 1×1.5, while on Usyk’s win – 1×2.65. However, do not forget that the Ukrainian was considered an underdog in the first fight with Joshua.