May 17th 2024.
The upcoming heavyweight boxing match between Fury and Usyk is being hailed as the biggest fight in the sport in the past 25 years. Frazer Clarke, who is present in Saudi Arabia for the event, shares his thoughts in his latest column about the wild and chaotic fight week and makes his predictions for the outcome.
After a tumultuous start, things have now calmed down in Saudi Arabia. The clash between Team Fury and Team Usyk on Monday may have seemed like absolute chaos, but it was just a few crossed words and a bit of a scuffle before John Fury, Tyson's father, delivered a headbutt. It was quite surreal, with the whole incident starting off with some chanting. However, since then, there hasn't been any real animosity between the two sides or anyone else for that matter.
Deep down, everyone knows what is at stake here. They have been reminded to "behave themselves" because ultimately, this fight is about the two fighters and not anyone else. It seems like someone from higher authority has given a warning to keep things in check and remember the location. In Manchester or London, the build-up may be more intense, but in Saudi Arabia, it's a different story.
The mind games have already begun. At the open workouts on Wednesday night, both Fury and Usyk showed off their skills, but there were also some subtle mind games at play. Usyk was in an orthodox stance, while Fury was working out in southpaw. Usyk watched Fury for five minutes without blinking, but it's uncertain what he could have taken from it other than some of Fury's dance moves on his way to the ring. Fury, on the other hand, seemed very relaxed and enjoyed himself. As boxers, being in the ring is where they are most comfortable, especially during a busy fight week filled with media obligations and waiting around.
Both fighters look relaxed overall, but they are also aware of the magnitude of this fight. As each day passes, it's becoming more apparent that this is the biggest fight in 25 years, and the nerves will surely kick in soon. But that's a natural part of the process.
There has been a lot of talk about Fury's weight leading up to the fight. He looks to be in fantastic shape and definitely leaner, but it's unlikely that he will be much lighter than usual. It seems to be more of a change in his body composition, with everything being more tightened up. This is to be expected, as this is the biggest fight of his career.
Usyk, on the other hand, can become undisputed in a second weight class if he wins this fight. He looks lean, dangerous, and prepared to match Fury in some aspects. However, he is still three stone (42 lbs) lighter than Fury, so he's not exactly small. It seems like Fury has put in extra effort to close the gap in athleticism, which is why he's in such great shape.
This fight has been trending in the news, with even more stories emerging. Usyk's team has lodged a complaint about the ring, some are questioning if Fury is on the decline after his last fight against Francis Ngannou, and Fury explains why he refused to look at Usyk during the face-off. It's clear that everyone is eagerly anticipating this historic and unforgettable night, and even those present in Saudi Arabia cannot definitively predict the winner.
As someone who is usually able to pick up on things during fight week, Clarke admits that he hasn't seen anything to suggest that one fighter has the edge over the other. This fight is difficult to predict, and he is torn between two possible outcomes - a close, potentially controversial points decision for Fury or a dominant performance from Usyk pulling away in the later rounds. One thing is certain, this fight will go down in history, and it will be a night to remember.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
