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The Ring regards him as the world’s finest active pound-for-pound boxer with a chance to become the world’s undisputed heavyweight champion. But who is lining up for Oleksandr Usyk’s next fight?
Usyk’s boxing career is highly decorated. He took the Olympic heavyweight gold at the 2012 London Olympics before becoming the world’s unified and undisputed cruiserweight champion. Usyk’s victory over Murat Gassiev in Moscow’s Olympic Stadium was a defining moment in his career.
The proud Ukrainian, 36, then stepped up into the heavyweight division. Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora were promptly despatched in 2019 and 2020, respectively, teeing up a fight with Anthony Joshua for the title of unified heavyweight champion. Usyk won the first fight by unanimous decision and the rematch by split decision before defending his belts in August 2023 against up-and-coming Briton Daniel Dubois.
Is Tyson Fury Usyk’s next opponent?
After months of protracted negotiations, an undisputed showdown with Tyson Fury was finally announced. WBC and Lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury will face off against Usyk, with the Ukrainian’s WBO, IBF and WBA world heavyweight belts all on the line February 17th 2024.
Within days since the Saudi Arabia’s General Sports Authority confirmed a monster fight card in December involving heavyweight giants Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, Saudi Arabia has come up trumps again to host this unique marquee sporting event.
It’s the first time in the four-belt era of 21st-century boxing that all titles will be on the line. Fury comes into the fight off the back of an unconvincing decision victory over MMA star Francis Ngannou. Meanwhile, Usyk’s bout with Dubois earlier this summer was also full of controversy surrounding the legitimacy of a low-blow call by referee Luis Pabon.
The Fury Vs Usyk match-up has all the makings of a classic fight. Fury stands six inches taller than Usyk and has a seven-centimetre greater reach than the Ukrainian. However, Usyk has a slicker boxing style and could prove a slippery customer for the Gypsy King.
When and where is Fury Vs Usyk taking place?
The Fury Vs Usyk fight – marketed as Ring of Fire – is scheduled to take place on February 17, 2024. The fight will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The undisputed heavyweight showdown will now form part of the Riyadh Season.
The fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury has been in the balance for many months now. Last year, it looked likely to happen, only for contractual issues to put a spanner in the works. Following significant involvement from Turki Alalshikh, the chair of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, the fight will be hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is trying hard to become the global capital for boxing, arresting the title from Las Vegas, which has long been the destination for the biggest title fights. Following the success of Fury’s exhibition fight with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, the capital’s Kingdom Arena will again be the venue for more boxing history.
When was the last time boxing had an undisputed world heavyweight champion?
It’s been some time since the sport of boxing had an undisputed world heavyweight champion. British fighter Lennox Lewis was the last man to hold all the belts after winning his fight with Evander Holyfield in November 1999. The fight, dubbed ‘The Real Deal’, was the rematch between the two after a split draw verdict in their first fight in March of the same year.
Interestingly, Lewis would only remain undisputed heavyweight champion for a short period. Lewis was stripped of the WBA world heavyweight belt the following year for refusing to fight mandatory challenger John Ruiz. The IBF world heavyweight belt was also relinquished in 2002 after a similar issue involving mandatory challenger Chris Byrd.
Lewis instead fought Michael Grant and Hasim Rahman. The latter managed to pinch a stunning victory in 2001, but Lewis avenged the loss in the rematch. A long-awaited fight with Mike Tyson came in 2002, followed by a gruelling victory over Vitali Klitschko the following year – Lewis’ final fight prior to retirement.
Place your bets on the Ring of Fire fight at Parimatch
If you’re ready to place your bet on the upcoming bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury for the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion, we’ve got all the angles covered at Parimatch.
You can place pre-fight bets on the ‘Ring of Fire’ contest by checking out our Usyk odds and Tyson Fury betting markets or wait until the event goes in-play to bet with your eyes – the choice is yours. Either way, you can be sure of competitive boxing odds, available on desktop and mobile devices.
If you’re betting on boxing at Parimatch for the first time, familiarise yourself with our Safer Gambling Portal. Here, you’ll find access to all our responsible gambling tools to help you stay in control of your sports betting.
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