The level of intensity went through the roof earlier today as unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury locked eyes for about ten minutes, with neither man breaking the stare down. Fury has been saying all week that he is locked in like never before, and this will be a different, more serious fight for him. Usyk continues playing mind games and consistently tells Fury he will not leave him alone. We are just hours away from the weigh-in as both heavyweight fighters show their physique off and get their last words in before the fight on Saturday.
Here from the two heavyweights and their team below.
Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs)
Q: What is it all about for you on Saturday night?
“Now we just have the performance. Talks, cameras, lights, kind of show. Everything is going to be taking place Saturday night on the 21st.”
Q: What is your final message to Tyson before Saturday?
“Don’t be afraid. I will not leave you alone. See you on Saturday.”
Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs)
Q: What is this fight all about for Tyson Fury on Saturday night?
“I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain.”
Q: There seems to be an extra menace about you this week?
“I’ve got nothing to say apart from there’s going to be a whole lot of hurt and pain in this fight, you watch. The talking’s been done. The first fight, I talked, I joked, all my career. This time I’m serious, I’m going to do some damage here on Saturday night. Watch me go to work.”
Q: What do you want to tell Usyk ahead of Saturday night?
“I can’t wait for Saturday night. Thank you everybody involved. God bless.”
Frank Warren, Founder and Chairman, Queensberry Promotions
Q: Talk to us about Saturday’s event and how you’re backing your man, Tyson Fury
“The biggest fight is happening on Saturday night. The rematch. The first fight was magnificent, it was a great fight. It had everything, a very close fight, a cigarette paper in the decision. This time around, I know these guys, they’ve shared the ring together for 12 rounds. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s going to be about who can exploit the weaknesses, who has the strength to exploit the weaknesses. I believe Tyson Fury will come through this, and I don’t believe this fight will go the distance. He’s in great shape, a great frame of mind for this fight. Fighting mode. We’re going to get an extra, extra, extra special event. Do not blink after the first bell.”
Eddie Hearn, Chairman, Matchroom Boxing
Q: Are you supporting Tyson Fury in this fight?
👁️👁️ #UsykFury2 #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/3nbmh6ApHP
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) December 19, 2024
“Regarding the main event, I’ve got a lot of history with Oleksandr Usyk, but I am backing Tyson Fury. Of course, he’s the Brit. People ask me all the time, “who’s going to win this fight?” and I’ve said this: Oleksandr Usyk is an incredible fighter and it will take something extraordinary to beat him on Saturday night. But, and I know we’ve had our differences, Tyson Fury is capable of extraordinary things. His victory against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany, I watched that on a laptop in a hotel in America, I thought he had absolutely no chance. He won every single round. When he fought Deontay Wilder in America, I thought he had absolutely no chance. He was robbed in the first fight, he smashed him to pieces in the second fight. Two generational great heavyweights, two credits to the sport. May God bless you both on Saturday night, but most of all, I can’t believe I’m saying it, may Tyson Fury be victorious on Saturday night for Britain and get the championship back.”
Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Boxing
Q: Give us your thoughts on Saturday night and where it stands historically as well.
“I’m not going to talk about great fights and great fighters because it will be a great fight, and these are great fighters. I’m not only Tyson Fury’s co-promoter, I am also a Tyson Fury fan. If anyone watched the second Wilder fight, Tyson knew what he had to do and won that fight in a real one-sided way. I’m looking forward to him fighting in that way again, and being successful on Saturday night. That being said, he’s fighting a tough, skilled Ukrainian. Personally, like many Americans, I am so proud of his people, how hard they have been fighting, and what they have been accomplishing. Oleksandr Usyk typifies the strength of Ukraine, but on Saturday night he’s fighting one of the best heavyweights of all time, Tyson Fury. I’m very confident that our man Tyson will emerge victorious.”
Sergey Lapin (Oleksandr Usyk’s Team Director)
Q: You’ve got 12 rounds of data now as a team. What’s going to happen on Saturday, have you had to change much?
“This upcoming Saturday, we will have the battle of two great champions, where the current champion will prove to the other that he is the stronger man. Usyk is the champion and you will see that on Saturday night.”
Egis Klimas (Oleksandr Usyk’s Manager)
Q: Tell us why he (Usyk) will get the job done?
“Listen, Oleksandr Usyk has been the champion on the road. He’s a warrior on the road. In May, Oleksandr Usyk proved to the whole world when he became the undisputed champion of the world, winning against Tyson Fury. We don’t have anything else to prove. We did everything, every fight that Oleksandr fought, he never fought at home. He fought in the UK, in the United States, then he came here to fight in Riyadh, it’s always on the road. Now, after he’s already been undisputed we’re coming here and we have to prove again, which is no problem. We will see Saturday night once again who is Oleksandr Usyk.”
Alex Krassyuk (Head Promoter, K2 Promotions)
Q: Last time we had a press conference, you had a lovely short poem for us. I’m curious what you have for us tonight?
“Who could ever imagine that a small common young kid from Crimea, one day becomes the two-time undisputed champion? His dream came true, our dream came true, his fans dreams came true. There is a man in the kingdom who has a habit of making dreams come true. Your excellency, thank you very much.”
“And one more gratitude goes to the Gypsy King. We know that he is not very good at making the rematches, but we must admit that courage and bravery lives in his heart. Tyson, thank you for being here.”
“Just one day separates us from the battle and from its outcome. May strength and valor accompany them in the battle. Good luck to both of them and let the best man win, again.”
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