It wasn’t your usual media workout, but then again, it seems like nothing is traditional when fights are held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There wasn’t much activity with regard to the “workout,” as it was more of an opportunity for those in attendance to see either Oleksandr Usyk and/or Tyson Fury before Thursday’s final press conference. Much has been made about Fury’s beard, which was one of the topics at the start of fight week. Will he shave it or be forced to shave it before fight night? Does it even matter? Is this just part of Team Usyk’s mind games? Expect more of these types of discussions as we move closer to fight night and the DAZN producers scatter to find things to be spoken about on their various telecasts.
For now, here is a Q&A both fighters did after their workout today.
TYSON FURY
On seeming to win your rematches more convincingly, is that a case of figuring opponents out since that encounter or do you go into the first fights underestimating your opponent?
“Just a bit of progression I suppose.”
You go into this one as an underdog. Does that matter to you? Do you feel like a better Tyson when the world’s against you and your back’s against the wall?
“Not really. I don’t feel any pressure at all. Just go in there and do what I’ve got to do and get out of there.”
Do you ever think about the end of boxing and what else could be in store for you after?
“I’ve tried to walk away many times and been unsuccessful. I meant it when I retired after Dillian Whyte back in 2022. I really meant that wholeheartedly. I could have put my hand on the Bible and meant it, but it was difficult to let it go. So I’m not sure if I can ever let it go.”
What brings you back? Is it just the safe space of the ring? Is that where you feel at home?
“What brings me back to the ring? Just the victory and winning the belts. That’s what keeps me going. It’s what I do.”
Will this be the biggest victory for you? Would it eclipse Klitschko?
“No, I don’t think boxing will ever be my biggest victory. I’ve come back from suicide. I’ve come back from the depths of despair. So yeah, to go in there and get paid a ton of money to do a boxing match with some clown or whatever it might be, boxers, it’s child’s play compared to what I’ve had to go through. So yeah, this boxing thing for me is just a game compared to what I’ve had to go through.”
You know when you first fight an opponent, you never really know how good the fight’s going to be. You don’t know how good your opponent will be. Did you find out a bit more about Usyk since your last encounter with him?
“No. No. He wasn’t any different to I thought he would be.”
I was ringside with Chris Manix, and I think after round six Chris told me, “Fury’s got this one. Fury’s too good on this occasion. Too big, too strong.” Did you think that as well?
“Mine? I didn’t think anything. I was just doing my job.”
Were you happy with the performance [in the first fight against Usyk?
“Very happy, yeah. Obviously I didn’t get the result I wanted, but I was happy overall with what I did.”
Does this fight feel different because it’s not undisputed? Does it feel any bigger, any smaller?
“It’s just a fight to me, they’re all the same. They’re all the same…Maybe [the fight is different] to you [Oladipo] but to me, I have just told you it’s just a fight.”
What Fury are we going to see? I think we’ve seen different types in the ring. We’ve seen the one against Wilder the second time around where you absolutely bullied him and steamrolled him.
“That was a long time ago.”
Yes, but that Fury is still there.
“Is he?”
100%. I saw it in the first six rounds of the first fight.
“Not sure. He may have evaporated, who knows? Legs might be gone, chin might be gone. Boxing ability might be shot. We’ll find out on the 21st. That’s why you have to tune into the pay-per-view on DAZN. Come and see if the old dancing master still got it or not.”
Is training in Malta different from training in Morecambe?
“Not really. Weather’s different obviously, but training’s training, no matter where you are. Very mundane, routine kind of stuff. Repetitive.”
Is it nice to just be completely away, where cameras don’t just pop up when they need to? Do you know what I mean? To be completely away with no disturbances whatsoever.
“For me, it’s not really an important thing where the camp is. I’ve had camps in Vegas, Spain, everywhere, and I’m the sort of person who doesn’t get distracted and just does my job regardless. That’s what I do. If I had to train in a nightclub, I wouldn’t be bopping away in the disco at night. I’d just be doing my training.”
Thank you Tyson. I wish you good luck against Oleksandr Usyk. I want to say this on record, I hope this isn’t your last fight because I think you’ve entertained us forever in and out the ring in equal measure. I think we haven’t seen anyone entertain us in equal measure like that since Muhammad Ali. So for that, I wish you good luck on December 21st.
“Thank you. And just for the record, I’m going to absolutely annihilate this m*therf*cker on Saturday night. No retirement. I’m cleaning them all out, and he’s going to be the first.”
OLEKSANDR USYK
You’ve done everything as a pro. You’ve done everything as an amateur. Why do you still continue to box? What’s the goal now for Oleksandr Usyk now that you’ve conquered the sport?
“This is my life. When I go to the ring, it’s the only place where I feel very good about myself. The ring is home. It’s a special place for me. There are many times I wanted to give up, where I came home crying in my pillows. But, then I wake up, go to the mirror and I say to myself, “You should keep going. You should be a man and just do it. Do it more and more.”
I think there’s some more challenges that you can have. Do you think of these other challenges as well?
“All the time. I’m always learning more and I’m always thankful to God that he gives me these opportunities to learn more. Everything that’s easy, that can get lost in a second. Everything that’s hard, that’s what’s important and valuable.”
Does it feel very different compared to the first time you fought Tyson?
“Yeah, it’s a bigger fight because last time it was for undisputed, but now it’s a rematch. I know I will be different, Tyson too. Tyson is very motivated, but I’m very motivated too.”
Are you surprised that he survived that ninth round?
“No, not surprised. That’s boxing.”
I think you are the pound for pound number one. I think you’re the best fighter right now. I think you’re the best fighter of this generation. Do you care about things like that?
“For me? No. For me it doesn’t matter. For me, pound for pound number one is Terrance Crawford. I like this man. He’s a great fighter. He’s a terribly tough boxer. For me, maybe I’m number 17 [chuckles].”
Was there a fight where you knew you were special? Was there a performance against someone? For example, Gassiev, I thought that performance was amazing where you could have been like, okay, I’m very, very good at this.
“Yes, my final cruiserweight fight with Gassiev. I think it was a good fight. I was strong, but maybe I will be better on the 21st of December.”
When I say Tyson Fury, what do you think?
“Greedy belly! No, I am joking. He’s a hard opponent. He’s a great boxer, father, husband — I have much respect for Tyson Fury. “
Is he the best fighter you’ve ever faced?
“I think yes. For now at least.”
Because he’s so big or because he’s so skillful?
“Yeah, he’s good. He’s big with good skills, and a mind like a snake”
Oleksandr, how does this fight play out December 21st? How do you win? Do you think you can stop Tyson Fury? You were very close the first time.
“It will end out with the winning of the rabbit. How beautiful.”
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