In just a few days, boxing fans will witness a highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, set to take place on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk previously defeated Fury by a narrow margin in their initial encounter, making history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades. Since that fight, Usyk has relinquished the IBF title, which is now held by Daniel Dubois, leaving his WBC, WBA, and WBO titles up for grabs at the Kingdom Arena, the same location as their first bout in May.
Viewers can tune into the 12-round matchup via pay-per-view on DAZN in numerous countries. The fighters are expected to make their entrance into the ring around 5 p.m. Eastern time, translating to 10 p.m. in London and 1 a.m. on Sunday in Riyadh.
As the fight draws near, betting odds suggest Usyk is the slight favorite at 3/4, while Fury sits at 11/10. The possibility of a draw is listed at 15/1.
The initial clash between the two fighters resulted in a tight decision, with Usyk winning on two of the three judges’ scorecards by scores of 115-112 and 114-113, while the third judge awarded the fight to Fury by the same margin. Fury had a lead through the first seven rounds, but Usyk made a significant comeback, nearly finishing Fury in the ninth round, which saw him briefly knocked down before the bell saved the taller fighter.
This rematch carries significant weight beyond just the titles. For Usyk, who boasts a record of 22-0, it’s an opportunity to solidify his legacy and make a strong statement as a formidable champion. The 37-year-old is also seen as a representative of Ukraine during challenging times amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Conversely, Fury, with a record of 34-1-1, is on a quest for redemption, looking to avenge the only loss in his professional career. Known for his prowess in rematches, the 36-year-old Englishman has won all five of his previous rematches.
In terms of financial stakes, the fighters are reportedly competing for a substantial purse of $190 million, although the exact division of earnings has yet to be disclosed. Should Fury emerge victorious, he has expressed interest in a trilogy fight, while Usyk remains noncommittal, stating, “we’ll see.”
The undercard will also feature a promising heavyweight bout, where the undefeated Moses Itauma (10-0, 8 KOs) will face off against Australian Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KOs). Itauma, a 19-year-old southpaw hailing from Slovakia, is known for his powerful punches, having ended all of his last six fights within the second round. Additionally, another heavyweight match on the undercard includes an all-British face-off between Johnny Fisher (12-0, 11 KOs) and David Allen (23-6-2, 18 KOs). The first fight of the evening is slated to commence at 11 a.m. Eastern.