sportskeeda
THIS was intended to mark the beginning of a golden age in British heavyweight boxing.
That was the case until Oleksandr Usyk entered the picture.
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The anticipated matchup between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua was expected to be the most significant British fight ever — touted as the nation’s most awaited sporting event.
Britain has never seen two elite heavyweights simultaneously at their peak performance.
There has also been a lack of multiple credible contenders regularly appearing in the global top ten rankings.
After years of obstacles and political maneuvering, an opportunity arose when Saudi Arabia acquired high-level boxing talent, paving the way for Fury and Joshua to finally clash.
While substantial financial incentives from Saudi Arabia may spark ethical debates, they can indeed transform challenging matchups into a reality.
However, it seems the Fury-Joshua bout may be doomed to never happen.
And if it does, it would occur far later than desired, echoing the letdown of the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
Usyk is the key player behind this shift. Here in the Saudi capital tomorrow, the unbeaten Ukrainian with an impressive record of 22-0 aims to wrap up his mission of conquering British heavyweight boxing’s golden era.
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This will mark Usyk’s sixth successive match against British opponents and his seventh out of the last eight.
He first fought Tony Bellew to defend his undisputed cruiserweight title, followed by bouts against Derek Chisora, Joshua (twice), Daniel Dubois, and now Fury, establishing himself as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century.
Watch Tyson Fury’s intense declaration as the Gypsy King promises to put ‘f*****’ Oleksandr Usyk ‘in the hurt locker.
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All these opponents were defeated by a confident cruiserweight who is also an intellectual within the boxing realm.
Usyk made a significant impact in September 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marking one of Britain’s first major athletic events post-pandemic.
This marked Joshua’s return following two international fights against Andy Ruiz Jr and a closed-door match during Covid restrictions.
The famed venue had never looked more vibrant, celebrating after 18 months of difficulties.
Usyk, known for his tactical skills yet significantly lighter than the champion Joshua, was expected to be an easy target.
No one present that night could forget the comprehensive lesson Usyk imparted on Joshua, as he defeated the Watford fighter to capture the WBA, IBF, and WBO world titles.
While Joshua’s earlier loss to Ruiz was due to a powerful blow that left him dazed, this matchup was a masterclass that shattered his reputation as a top fighter.
It also hindered another potential matchup between Joshua and Fury — heavily hyped since the middle of the last decade — once more.
Although the rematch with Joshua, delayed due to the Russian invasion of Usyk’s homeland, was much closer in Jeddah, the Crimean fighter clearly emerged victorious.
He also debunked the antiquated belief that a ‘good big man will always conquer a good little man’.
After Usyk’s knockout of young British contender Dubois in his first title defense, the highly anticipated undisputed fight took place here in May.
The Gypsy King was heavily favored — weighing nearly 40 pounds more and with a track record that included victories over legends such as Wladimir Klitschko and a stunning performance against Deontay Wilder to claim titles.
However, despite Fury holding a slight lead in the initial seven rounds, he was rocked and bloodied by some significant punches in the eighth, saved by the bell in the ninth midst a barrage from the Ukrainian.
Usyk secured a split decision that arguably should have been unanimous, and few experts question that he will win again, potentially by an even clearer scoreline tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Saudi sponsors kindly arranged an all-British IBF world title clash between Joshua and Dubois at Wembley — where Joshua suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of the younger opponent.
This outcome significantly dampens the intrigue surrounding the AJ-Fury showdown.
If it occurs — and Fury has recently downplayed expectations, claiming Joshua is ‘in tatters’ after his loss to Dubois — it will lack the excitement it once promised.
It is Usyk, a commendable and genuinely likable character, who has skillfully dismantled the hopes of countless British boxing enthusiasts.
This Saturday night, he aims to finish what he started.
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Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels, and undercard – all the info you need for the big rematch
