Fight of the invincibles – Sport – Kommersant

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Briton Anthony Joshua last weekend and defended the world heavyweight title according to the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization, will have another fight this year. On December 17, in Saudi Arabia, he will fight with another undefeated boxer – the champion of the World Boxing Council Briton Tyson Fury. At stake in this fight will be the title of absolute world heavyweight champion, which over the past 20 years none of the boxers have managed to win.

The fact that the fight between Alexander Usik and Tyson Fury will take place at the end of the year in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, was reported by Daily Mail. According to the British edition, the boxers will fight on December 17, on the eve of the final match of the Qatari World Cup.

This fight is destined to become one of the main sporting events of the year: the title of the absolute world heavyweight champion, that is, the four belts of the main structures that control boxing, will be at stake. Three of them – the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization – belong to Usyk. Another – the World Boxing Council – Fury. Briton Lennox Lewis managed to collect all the belts (at that time there were, however, only three) in this division for the last time, and this happened more than two decades ago – in 2000.

For both boxers, this fight seems to be the main and, it cannot be ruled out, the last in their careers. Both of them have undefeated status: Usyk has 20 wins in 20 fights, Fury has 32 wins and one draw.

Oleksandr Usyk, won this weekend by a split decision victory over Briton Anthony Joshua, after threatening: “If I don’t fight Tyson Fury, I won’t fight anyone.” Usyk, 35, who has collected all the titles in the cruiserweight division, made the transition to the next division three years ago. Then his decision seemed rather risky: the dimensions of the boxer by the standards of the new category looked modest. But despite this, he managed to extend his winning streak.

For the sake of the title of absolute champion, the decision to resume his career was made – it seems, this time is still final – by British heavyweight Tyson Fury.

Intrigue with Fury’s future arose in April after the 34-year-old heavyweight fought Dillian Whyte. In it, he confidently defended the WBC title with a knockout in the sixth round, which he had previously taken from the American Deontay Wilder. Immediately after the fight, Fury, who is in great demand among the public, unexpectedly announced that he was ending a career full of ups and scandals threatening disaster.

However, few people took those words of Tyson Fury, who was distinguished by eccentric behavior, seriously.

It was clear that this was, most likely, about something like a marketing ploy, designed to further increase interest in the person of Fury before the most important event in his sports biography.

In early August, the British declared about returning formally for the fight against Derek Chisora. But then the talk about this fight subsided: even then it was clear that Fury’s goal was different – the fight for the title of absolute champion.

Now Fury is set, apparently, seriously. The fact that the fight will certainly take place was confirmed by the boxer’s promoter Frank Warren. True, he made a reservation that difficulties could still arise with the choice of a place, since the financial expectations of the boxers are quite high. Tyson Fury expects to receive €55–60 million for participating in this fight, according to the Daily Mail. The April fight with Dillian Whyte, for comparison, brought him $33.6 million.

Ekaterina Remizova