Philippines, 25 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk Make Grand Arrivals ahead of Saturday's UNDISPUTED SHOWDOWN

PhilBoxing.com





Fury-Usyk & and a LOADED undercard will be broadcast live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (May 14, 2024) — Heavyweight history will be made soon in The Kingdom.

WBC/Lineal champion Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and WBO/IBF/WBA ruler Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) will battle for the undisputed heavyweight crown this Saturday at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The winner becomes the division's first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis accomplished that feat in 1999.

On Tuesday at Boulevard Riyadh City, the main event combatants and undercard fighters made their grand arrivals. The pageantry was befitting one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights in modern memory, a long-simmering rivalry that will play out in four days.

Fury has been the lineal champion for nearly nine years and is coming off last October's decision over Francis Ngannou in Riyadh. Usyk survived a tough challenge before knocking out Daniel Dubois in the ninth round last August in Poland. After a Fury cut suffered in sparring scuttled their original Feb. 17 fight date, the world's top heavyweights are finally in the same location.

The Fury-Usyk card is available on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV in the United States beginning at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

The pay-per-view undercard features a pair of world title fights. In the co-feature, cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) puts his Ring Magazine belt on the line against Mairis Breidis (28-2, 20 KOs), the man he dethroned for the IBF world title in July 2022. The vacant IBF world title will also be at stake in this highly anticipated rematch.

The fighting pride of Wales, IBF junior lightweight world champion Joe Cordina (17-0, 9 KOs), defends his strap against Belfast native Anthony Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs).

At Tuesday's grand arrivals, this is what Fury, Usyk, and Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum had to say.



Tyson Fury

“It feels absolutely fantastic to be in the great Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m feeling fantastic. I can’t wait to put a good show on. There’s so many people coming. It’s such an event. All the big stars are here. It’s going to be epic. I can’t wait for Saturday night.”

“If I was fighting an old dosser on Saturday night who had five fights and lost them all, it would be very important to me. Every fight I’ve ever had is important to me. Every little fight along the way was important to me. I believe that every left and right turn I’ve ever taken in my life, every time I’ve fallen over, and every time I’ve climbed up was all leading to this moment. It’s destiny.”

"I predict that somebody's '0' has got to go. And it's going to be that team over there, unfortunately for them. Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter. Olympic gold medalist, cruiserweight world champion, heavyweight world champion. But, unfortunately for him, he has to come against the great Tyson Fury in the era of me. I'm really looking forward to Saturday night.”

“Even if he had 20 million people screaming his name, they cannot fight for him on the night. And when there's two men in there on the night, it's going to be very daunting when he has the undertaker in the ring with him."



Oleksandr Usyk

"I feel good. I'm very happy to be here. Saturday is a special day because I will have the opportunity to become undisputed for a second time. It's great. It's very good for me. It's very important for my country. I like that."

"I have a plan. It's a better plan. And it's a great plan."

"I really appreciate the support from my fans and Ukrainian soldiers. I love my fans."

Bob Arum

"Unfortunately, we don’t see enough of these events in boxing. The undisputed heavyweight championship of the world occurs so infrequently that it’s almost like a blue moon coming. And now, on Saturday night, we will have the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world here in Riyadh. And that means that after this fight, there is one 'Baddest Man on the Planet,' the undisputed heavyweight champion. That means everything in the sport of boxing. That means everything for fans who love boxing."


Saturday, May 18

Top Rank on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View (12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT)


Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, 12 rounds, Undisputed Heavyweight World Title

Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis 2, 12 rounds, Vacant IBF and Opetaia's Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Titles

Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace, 12 rounds, Cordina's IBF Junior Lightweight World Title

Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel, 12 rounds, WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator

Moses Itauma vs. Ilja Mezencev, 10 rounds, Vacant WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title

Mark Chamberlain vs. Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab, 12 rounds, Vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Title

Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Sirwan Safar, 10 rounds, Cruiserweight

Daniel Lapin vs. Octavio Pudivtr, 10 rounds, Vacant WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • LAS VEGAS FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS MILLER AND PERO COLLIDE IN WBA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Undefeated Knockout Artist Amari “The Reaper” Jones Headlines First-Ever DAZN Card Against Former World Champion Vincenzo “Il Capo” Gualtieri
    , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Mexican female stars Mayelli Flores and Irma ¨Torbellino¨ Garcia sign with MVP
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Basil to fight Britanico on April 26 in Delpan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Race briefing of Mt. Apo Boulder Face on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Into fights for IBA championship on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Camigue fights in Tanzania on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Team USA Captures Three More Wins on Day Three at World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
    , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • 1,400 runners in Sagisag Davao Leg
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • The Marvelous Cup Invitational tourney set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Junior Middleweights Currently The Hottest Division In Boxing!
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • All Star Boxing Announces 'Clash of the Unbeaten' on May 22nd In Panama
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • Oliver Laroya Chess Tournament on April 25
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Undefeated Rising Prospect Robert Guerrero Jr. to Appear at 3rd Annual Battle of the Trades on April 25
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • WBC WORLD CHAMPION DALTON SMITH SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN’S MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team Swept Day Two of World Boxing Cup - Stage 1
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • FAELDONIA & NGO RULE STA. FE, ROMBLON, TABLAS OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines heads to Okada, Manila
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • May 16: Kelvin Davis-Peter Dobson Welterweight Clash & Yan Santana-Cristian Cruz Featherweight Battle Added to Keyshawn Davis-Nahir Albright II Card LIVE on DAZN
    , Wed, 22 Apr 2026
  • World Super Flyweight contender John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez waiting for Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’ final decision
    , Wed, 22 Apr 2026
  • Former champ Lawrence Okolie tested positive in VADA testing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 22 Apr 2026
  • Salim Ellis-Bey Secures Win for Team USA on Day One of World Boxing Cup - Stage 1
    , Wed, 22 Apr 2026
  • Garcia, Young, Gatus banner tough field in 20th Philippine Xiangqi Open Tournament on May 1
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 22 Apr 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION APRIL 20 APRIL 2026: Baumgardner Outpoints Shin, Retains IBF/WBA/WBO 130 Lb Titles; Daniels Stops Green in 9; Lorente SD Collins in WBC Welter Eliminator
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • ​Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Year of Memories Between the Ring and Faith
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.