Oleksandr Usyk was the calmest man in London despite two of the UK’s best heavyweights screaming in his face while 60,000 fans booed him.
The Ukrainian Champion was in the ring not for a fight, but to set one up. He had just watched Tyson Fury’s one-sided beat down of Derek Chisora, and now wants his shot at the Gypsy King – the winner of which will be crowned undisputed.
Fury called him out on the microphone and, in a set-up the WWE would be proud of, Usyk came forward. He was insulted as he stared steely-eyed back at his potential opponent, and then. Joe Joyce slid in out of nowhere.
For many fans though, the idea that we might get a super-fight next was briefly overshadowed by the fact that the Ukrainian seemed to become disinterested enough to take a phone call as the two other big men were shouting.
Fans online called the moment ‘priceless’ and ‘the highlight of the night.’
When you're in a face off with the heavyweight champion of the world but your Deliveroo driver is outside.#FuryChisora3pic.twitter.com/9DoUc6M7lB
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 3, 2022
It’s perhaps a taste of what’s to come in a build up between two of the largest, and strangest, characters in the division. First though, a fight needs to be signed.
In the post-fight press conference, Fury, despite comments in the past, did say that he wanted to face Usyk next, and that the fight could land in either Saudi Arabia or the UK – the former being more likely.
As of now, things are up in the air – but the fact that both men and their teams want the fight is already one hurdle jumped.