Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clash during the weigh-in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. EPA
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clash during the weigh-in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. EPA
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clash during the weigh-in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. EPA
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clash during the weigh-in in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. EPA

Oleksandr Usyk giving away almost three stone to Tyson Fury in heavyweight clash


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Oleksandr Usyk will be giving away almost three stone to Tyson Fury in their heavyweight unification clash after it emerged that the wrong weight was announced at Friday’s weigh-in.

Usyk is 10 pounds lighter than stated for Saturday's fight with Fury in Saudi Arabia, his promoter said.

Alex Krassyuk told Sky Sports television that the WBA, IBF and WBO champion actually weighed in at 223 pounds but was announced as 233 and a half pounds (105.9kg), the heaviest he has been in his career.

Fury, the WBC champion, tipped the scales at 262 pounds (118.8kg).

That was lighter than the 277.7 pounds the Briton was at for his non-title fight against former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou in October, in which Fury was knocked down but won on a split decision.

Both Fury and Usyk are unbeaten professionally and the fight at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh will crown the first unified heavyweight boxing champion since 1999.

Fury unleashed an expletive-filled rant at Usyk during a fiery Friday's weigh-in.

Fury touched heads with Usyk and then shoved his Ukrainian opponent when the rivals came together for the final face-off before they clash to decide the division’s greatest fighter of their generation.

They had to be separated by security but Fury continued to point and shout at Usyk in stark contrast to Thursday night’s muted press conference.

“We’re ready to rock and roll. Fireworks tomorrow night,” Fury said on the stage.

“I’m going to knock him spark out. I’m coming for his heart, that’s what I’m coming for. He’s getting it tomorrow, spark out."

Oleksandr Usyk open workout in Riyadh

  • Oleksandr Usyk trains during the Ring Of Fire - Open Workouts session at BLVD City - Music World, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 15, 2024. Getty
    Oleksandr Usyk trains during the Ring Of Fire - Open Workouts session at BLVD City - Music World, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 15, 2024. Getty
  • Oleksandr Usyk of Ukrain puts his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight belts on the line against WBC champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh on Saturday. Reuters
    Oleksandr Usyk of Ukrain puts his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight belts on the line against WBC champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh on Saturday. Reuters
  • Oleksandr Usyk shadow boxes during the open workout sessions on Wednesday. Getty
    Oleksandr Usyk shadow boxes during the open workout sessions on Wednesday. Getty
  • Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine hits the pads during the Ring Of Fire - Open Workouts session. Getty
    Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine hits the pads during the Ring Of Fire - Open Workouts session. Getty
  • Oleksandr Usyk warms up in the ring. The Ukrainian claimed the reason for Tyson Fury's dramatic weight loss ahead of their clash was down to nerves. Getty
    Oleksandr Usyk warms up in the ring. The Ukrainian claimed the reason for Tyson Fury's dramatic weight loss ahead of their clash was down to nerves. Getty
  • IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. PA
    IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. PA

Usyk was unmoved by Fury’s provocation and delivered a calmer interview once Fury had left the stage, declaring that he is not feeling any nerves despite the size of the occasion.

“Don’t be afraid, I will not leave you alone tomorrow. If I will be nervous, I won’t win. My fans – I love you, see you tomorrow,” he said.

Fury weighed in at his lowest since 2018 when he fought Deontay Wilder for the first time.

Some of the biggest names in heavyweight history were present to watch the weigh-in, including Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes and Wladimir Klitschko.

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Meydan Racecourse racecard:

6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 1,900m

7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m

7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh265,000 1,600m

8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) Dh165,000 1,600m

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh265,000 2,000m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m

10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,600m.

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

SCORES IN BRIEF

Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).

Updated: May 18, 2024, 1:24 PM