British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Ukrainian contender Oleksandr Usyk will face off for the undisputed heavyweight world title today at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena.
According to a media statement, the winner will claim the championship belts from boxing’s most prestigious global organizations: the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO). The belts feature images of boxing legends like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Both Fury and Usyk are determined to join these iconic figures in boxing history.
Today’s match is highly anticipated as it marks the first time all four belts will be unified in a single fight. This event honors the legacy of past champions who have defined the sport.
Size is a notable factor in this bout, with southpaw Usyk conceding 15 centimeters (6 inches) in height to the 2.06 meter (6 feet 9 inches) Fury, along with 18 centimeters in reach and nearly 22 kilograms (49 pounds) in weight. “To win this, I don’t need to be heavy, I need to be fast, and quick,” Usyk told Ring magazine in February. “You never see a fat wolf in the forest.”
Usyk boasts an impeccable record of 21 victories and zero losses, with 14 wins by knockout, and an Olympic gold medal from London 2012. “I respect Usyk as a man,” Fury stated before the match. “I respect his career as well. I’m fighting the real deal. He’s got good footwork, good boxing ability, technically sound. He’s proved he can mix it with the big heavyweights because he’s beat Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. I’m messing with an elite fighter.”
The WBC, established in 1963, counts Muhammad Ali among its most celebrated champions. The IBF, founded in 1983, saw Larry Holmes dominate the heavyweight division for seven years. The WBO, established in 1988, has been held by notable champions like Chris Byrd and Herbie Hide. The oldest title, the WBA, established over a century ago, was famously held by Joe Louis for 12 years from 1937 to 1949, earning him recognition as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers.
Saudi Arabia has become a key location for major boxing events, with significant investments attracting top bouts to the Kingdom. Previous high-profile matches have drawn global attention, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s status as a new hub for international boxing.
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