Philippines, 28 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:

  • MELBOURNE FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL AS NICOLSON TAKES ON TURNER FOR THE WBC INTERIM WORLD TITLE
    , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • ‘I’m coming to put on a performance—something exciting, something real. Don’t blink – The Black Hulk Bilal Seidu is back May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • Fil-Am Brandon Kier Sustento strikes again in US chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • Llover nears title shot
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • All Star Boxing, Inc. Signs Undefeated Japanese Prospect Yuga Ozaki to Multi-Year Promotional Agreement
    , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • Labog rules Okada Manila Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • Dacullo Edges Cometa in Thriller, Remains GAB Philippine Youth Minimum weight Champion
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • SKYE NICOLSON FIRES WARNING TO MARIAH TURNER AS SHE TARGETS HOMECOMING WIN THIS WEDNESDAY IN BID TO LAND UNDISPUTED SHOT
    , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • Salim Ellis-Bey Concludes 2026 World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 with Silver Medal
    , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • IIEE PSME Quezon City wins all matches in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Apr 2026
  • Alvin Gayeta Roma leads Mansa Engineering team to the championship of the Oliver Laroya 3x3 (Tatluhan) Rapid Chess Team Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 26 Apr 2026
  • Simona Winkler, Salim Ellis-Bey and Noelle Haro Advance to Medal Rounds At 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
    , Sun, 26 Apr 2026
  • Sanman 100 Official Weigh-In Results from General Santos
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Subkhankulov stops Usmonov, Agrba wins hard test, and Aminova claims WBA Asia title at IBA.PRO 17 in Ufa
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Pero vs Miller: Heavies Collide in Prove it fight on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Subkhankulov Stops Usmonov in Russia, Claims IBF No. 2 Spot at Lightweight
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Yeow Ming to fight in Bangkok for ABF title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • MILLER VS. PERO - WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • IBA Pro Champions Night to feature world champions in Saint Petersburg
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Noelle Haro and Marie Rosendo Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Four of 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Bautista to face Dulayba at Okada on April 30
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • 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




  •  



     
    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.