The talking is nearly over, and there was not much from either fighter as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk took part in the final press conference ahead of their Saturday contest in Saudi Arabia.
When they posed for pictures afterwards, Usyk stared at Fury, who purposefully looked away and played to the crowd. There was no eye contact.
Usyk, holder of three of the four world titles, said little more than, “Let’s make history. Enough.”
On the other side of the dais, Fury – holder of one belt – thanked God, the organizers and Usyk for presenting him with a challenge.
“I’ve got nothing to say other than I’m ready for a good fight, and if it’s tough or easy, either way I’ll be ready,” said Fury.
Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, added: “All has been done. All has been accomplished. All has been spoken. There is only one assignment left – to pick up this green belt and take it back to Ukraine, the country it belongs to.”
Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, said of that assignment, “It’s not going to be a walk in the park,” and questioned Fury’s claim to the lineal crown. Usyk’s trainer, Sergey Lapin, said Saturday marked the end of a long journey for his fighter.
“This preparation started in 2018 and it finished one week ago,” he said. “And today Oleksandr Usyk is ready for the final belt in the heavyweight division. The size does not matter to him. What does matter is the opponent in front of him, and I would love to wish patience to Tyson, as it’s going to be the most difficult night of his life.”
For Team Fury, trainer SugarHill Steward said his man was “100 percent” going for the knockout, and was asked about his own role in the fight, after his uncle Emanuel Steward had prepared Lennox Lewis for the last undisputed heavyweight title fight 25 years ago.
“The biggest men in boxing battling each other, and you have these No. 1 fighters – you couldn’t get any better than this,” he said. “And if Emanuel was alive, he would be here right now, and for me to be here in his place, I’m just so happy and blessed to be a part of it and take what he has taught me over the years of my life – not just in boxing, but as a man, and growing up to understand other men and people, and to be able to treat them with respect, as I want to be treated with respect. And this is just one of those times in my life where I just appreciate the things I’ve been through.”
Fury’s promoters, Frank Warren and Bob Arum, also talked up the contest and the occasion.
“The two best heavyweights in the world. The fights like this happen once in a generation,” said Warren.
“Who’s going to be the greatest heavyweight of this generation? We’re going to find out on Saturday when this fantastic fight happens. It’s got everything required to make it not just a great boxing moment but a special moment in sporting history.
“I’m backing my man [Fury] because he’s the best in the world and he’s proved it time and time again.”
Arum added: “In boxing, there’s a saying that the most important division is the heavyweight division, and when we have the opportunity to have an undisputed heavyweight champion crowned as well on Saturday night, it is something very, very significant.
“Saturday night is a very important night for boxing, because not only will we be crowning the undisputed heavyweight champion, but the two participants in the fight have never lost the fight. How rare is that? How great is that? The fans of the world – not just boxing fans, but fans and people all over the world – will be focusing on this arena, on this fight. And believe me, it will be a great one.”
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