Here's all you need to know to tune in to Saturday's colossal showdown in Saudi Arabia.
Boxing is on the cusp of crowning its inaugural undisputed heavyweight champion in the era of four major belts. The highly anticipated clash between undefeated heavyweights Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is slated for Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WBC heavyweight champion Fury (34-0-1) puts his title on the line against Usyk's (21-0) IBF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight belts. The victor will emerge as the sole holder of all four major heavyweight boxing titles simultaneously. This pivotal encounter will spark fresh debates about how the winner stacks up against iconic undisputed heavyweight champions of yesteryears such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Mike Tyson, and Rocky Marciano.
"I predict that somebody's '0' has got to go. And it's going to be that team over there, unfortunately for them," Fury asserted this week. "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."
While Fury appears in stellar condition, he faces considerable scrutiny following a lackluster split decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the latter's boxing debut. Ngannou floored an overweight Fury, who appeared hesitant despite his vast experience advantage. On the other hand, Usyk showcased his prowess in his recent title defense, dispatching a resilient Daniel Dubois with a knockout victory. Though Usyk endured a scare when Dubois landed a punch that floored him, the referee deemed it a low blow, sparking controversy among detractors who argue it should have been considered legal.
"I'm feeling good. I'm very pleased to be here," Usyk remarked. "Saturday holds special significance as I'll have the chance to reclaim undisputed status for the second time. It's fantastic. It means a lot to me. It's also very important for my country. I'm grateful for the opportunity.
"I've formulated a plan. It's an improved plan. And it's a brilliant plan."
The excitement kicks off at noon ET on DAZN and ESPN+ pay-per-view. For the comprehensive fight card, including odds and complete viewing details, refer to the list below.