Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have exchanged words remotely ahead of their fight, set to be announced formally this week.
Usyk is in attendance at the WBC’s Annual Convention, held this year in Uzbekistan. Fury – the sanctioning body’s heavyweight champion – is not there, but recorded a video message for his rival.
In it, he reeled off a familiar threat.
“Usyk, get ready! I’m smashing you to pieces sucker, 4 rounds!”
Usyk, in typical style, responded nicely.
“I have no idea, Tyson I love you, my opponent. I love Tyson. Hey Tyson, where are you?”
Oleksandr Usyk watches a video message from Tyson Fury at the WBC convention today as Fury threatens to smash him to pieces in four rounds, so Usyk responds: “I love Tyson Fury, great guy.”
[🎥 LomUs Official] pic.twitter.com/DhaAUT1W7q
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 14, 2023
The pair are signed to fight and set to announce a February date for the four-belt showdown. Usyk will bring the IBF, WBA and WBO titles to the table to make up the historic contest, with the winner becoming the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis.
A little more intrigue has been added since Fury’s last showing with Francis Ngannou, in which he looked well below-par. It has led some in the sport to lean more towards Usyk after the previous consensus being he may be too small to beat the 270lbs Fury.
Usyk beat Daniel Dubois in August to retain his belts – a ninth round stoppage not without controversy. The Ukrainian was on the canvas in the fifth round, but the show thrown by Dubiois was ruled a low blow. Despite the referee’s call, many think the champion is vulnerable to the body.
That will be a key feature of Fury’s gameplan should he want to deliver a stoppage in four rounds as promised.