‘Sausage, ugly little man, rabbit’: Fury and Usyk separated at face-off

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world in Riyadh on February 17, organisers announced.

Britain’s Fury is the WBC world champion while Ukrainian Usyk holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts. Both have unbeaten records.

Contracts were signed in September for a proposed December 23 date, although that was never confirmed and slid after Fury’s near defeat to former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a non-title bout in Saudi Arabia on October 28.

Heavyweight boxing’s last undisputed world champion was Britain’s Lennox Lewis in 1999, but this time, four belts are up for grabs for the first time.

After the announcement, a tense confrontation occurred between the boxers during a press conference, resulting in their eventual separation.
“You’re welcome to be sharing a ring with the future undisputed heavyweight champion – me,” the 35-year-old Fury said.
“You know what’s coming, you’re getting smashed to pieces. You’re fighting the best British heavyweight there’s ever been.

“You are all dossers. He’s going to get knocked out. And you two are going to work for me slinging my bags,” Fury told Usyk and his promoter, Alexander Krassyuk and manager, Egis Klimas.
“Sausage, ugly little man, rabbit,” Fury continued, aiming more expletives at his fellow champion.

A composed Usyk remained undeterred and reluctant to engage in a war of words. “Enough? My friend. Have you stopped? Enough? Have you stopped talking?,” he asked.
Usyk added he did not listen to anything Fury says, focusing on the match.
“When the Lord gives me Tyson in my hands, I will do my job,” he said.

Later, Usyk said that he saw the match as a chance to give back to all those who supported him.
“Its a big opportunity, being undisputed, for my family, country and people who now defend my country,” he said.

As the news conference drew to a close, music from the Rocky movie played as the two men came head to head.
Actor Sylvester Stallone made a surprise appearance and was sandwiched between the heavyweights.

After Tuesday’s announcement that a blockbuster card featuring Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua will take place in Riyadh on December 23, the biggest fight in world boxing is also heading to the Saudi capital.

It will form part of ‘Riyadh Season’ – an entertainment events festival held in Saudi Arabia’s capital every winter since its launch in 2019.