Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk had to be knocked out after 11 minutes of contact before the start of their fight.
Oleksandr Usyk and heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury were separated after an 11-minute fight at the pre-fight press conference. their title clash on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The pair held on for 11 minutes and 20 seconds before being separated, with Fury, 36, shouting at Usyk, 37, who eventually walked away armed as if he had won.
At the end of the fight in Riyadh, when the president of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Mauricio Sulaiman stepped in to stop the two, things came to a standstill, Usyk stood on the floor while Fury began to show as a test. it was designed to pull him away.
Ukrainian fighter Usyk defeated Fury, who was born in Manchester, United Kingdom. in a split decision in May connecting heavy belts. But the latter immediately caused controversy in the battle to return.
“Now we are just playing with lights and cameras. Everything will happen on Saturday,” Usyk told reporters calmly even before the usual meeting between the two on stage.
In regards to the nature of the event, and what is to come, Fury said he would “take a lot of pain away” from Riyadh's Kingdom Arena on Saturday night.
“I have nothing to say, except there has been a lot of pain and suffering in this war, you see,” he added.
“That's all I have to say.” The conversation is done. The first fight I spoke, I laughed – my whole career – this time, I'm sure. I will do a lot of damage. Watch me go to work.”
Usyk's coach, Sergey Lapin, was as brief as his fighter in response: “This Saturday we will have a fight between two great champions where one will prove that he is stronger.”
Usyk has been testing the pair heavily throughout the build-up to the fight, and Fury looks set to turn up the heat.
The Ukrainian boxer, who handed over the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title to rival Daniel Dubois shortly after unifying the belts, was judged the winner 115-112 and 114-113 by two judges in the previous meeting of the pair, when Fury was awarded. shake 114-113 and third.
“The first battle was successful; it was a very close fight,” said Fury's promoter, Frank Warren. “This time I know these guys, who have shared the ring for 12 rounds, will be about those who can exploit those weaknesses.
“I believe that Tyson Fury will get through this and I believe that it will not go too far. Tyson is fine and we will have another special event.”
The pair will meet again at the weigh-in on Friday ahead of the highly anticipated fight.
