Tyson Fury tried his best to get under Oleksandr Usyk’s skin at the launch press conference for their undisputed fight, now confirmed for February 17.
The Brit will put his WBC title on the line against Usyk’s WBO, WBA and IBF to crown the first sole champion on the heavyweight scene since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
A sweary and animated Fury hurled insults to an unfazed Usyk.
“He’s getting knocked out … so remember that. Remember I said it on this stage … I’ve already relieved one Ukrainian of all the belts. And I’ll relieve that idiot of the belts I gave him.”
“I’m gonna bust him. Sausage. Ugly little man. Rabbit. You’re fighting the best British heavyweight that’s ever been. You beat the rest of him, but you ain’t beat Tyson Fury.”
“When you sleep at night, ugly man, you’re gonna think of me for the next eight weeks, cause I’m gonna punch your face in.”
The Ukrainian likened the fight to David and Goliath.
“I want to tell one story which looks very similar to my story with Tyson, about David and Goliath. When the lord gives me Tyson in my hands, I will do my job.”
When it came to a face-off, Fury was an entirely different man than the bruised one who met Usyk in the ring after a ten-round fight with Ngannou.
He pushed his head onto Usyk’s – still he didn’t rise to it – before the pair were separated by security. The exchange was watched by Sylvester Stallone, who entered to the Rocky soundtrack.
𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅 ft @TheSlyStallone@Tyson_Fury & @usykaa lock eyes 😤#FuryUsyk | #RingOfFire | #RiyadhSeason | @Turki_alalshikhpic.twitter.com/I4mdprOicB
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 16, 2023
It was an exercise in mind games for Tyson Fury, but he may have just met his match in Oleksandr Usyk. Fans will see the real battle on February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.