05/14/2024
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will face off for the undisputed world heavyweight title on Saturday.
British boxer Fury is the current WBC heavyweight champion of the world.
Ukrainian Usyk remains undefeated in his professional career and has yet to be beaten since switching from cruiserweight where he was the undisputed champion.
The pair were supposed to face each other in February but Fury got a "freak" sparring injury that forced him to postpone the fight.
A week of pre-fight events got off to an explosive start when Fury's dad John Fury headbutted a member of Usyk's entourage at a media event on Monday.
An incident took place at a hotel during a media day. Pic: PA1:05
Play Video - Tyson Fury's dad clashes with Usyk's team
Tyson Fury's dad clashes with Usyk's team
When is the fight?
The ring walks for the main event are expected at 11pm UK time on Saturday 18 May.
Coverage of the build-up begins at 4pm UK time on Sky Sports Box Office with two hours of the undercard on Sky Sports Action from 4pm.
Who's on the undercard?
Joe Cordina will defend his super-featherweight world title as he fights Anthony Cacace on the undercard.
Jai Opetaia will face Mairis Briedis for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title.
Here are the other fights expected on the undercard:
Mark Chamberlain vs Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab
Sergey Kovalev vs Robin Sirwan Safar
Isaac Lowe vs Hasibullah Ahmadi
David Nyika vs Michael Seitz
Moses Itauma vs Ilja Mezencev
Agit Kabayel vs Frank Sanchez
What have Fury and Usyk said?
Fury said he respects Usyk's achievements - but he's out to prove himself as the best in the world.
"I'm the best. I'm just defending my 'best-ness' against him," he said.
"We have weight divisions for a reason. When the cruiserweights step up to the big boys, usually they get found wanting.
"You can beat the average big ones, but you can't beat the elite big ones because size really matters. These are facts."
Meanwhile Usyk insisted he wouldn't be paying attention to Fury's mind games.
"I'm doing good, I'm happy and I'm hungry. I don't care how Tyson will be this week. I'm ready," he said.
"For me May 18 is important, what Tyson does in the press conferences doesn't matter.
"I don't think about Tyson Fury now. I've seen him in a lot of fights. I don't know how he will box against me, we will see when we get into the ring."
Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk said the boxer's weapon was no secret: "His weapon is his mind, his heart, his experience and boxing skills.
"And the main thing about him that is different from Tyson Fury is his discipline. That is what makes him great and it is his toughest weapon."
