Let the hype begin.
The date for the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk championship bout was officially announced at a press conference on Thursday, with the showdown set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 17, 2024.
Billed as the "Ring of Fire," the fight will pit WBC heavyweight champion Fury against WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titleholder Usyk in a contest that will crown an undisputed champion in boxing's glamour division for the first time in 24 years. Thursday's conference put the two combatants face-to-face on stage, giving the men an opportunity to trade verbal jabs three months before they square off in the ring.
Not one to miss such an opportunity, Fury succinctly summed up the magnitude of the upcoming event.
"I’ve been in many heavyweight title fights before," Fury said. "And now is the most important one.
"We’re both undefeated. He’s a champion; I’m a champion. And it’s going to be one of the fights for the ages."
Not one to shy away from self-promotion, Fury wasted little time predicting a winner of the fight, and his pick should surprise no one.
"It’s been 24 years since we’ve last had an undisputed heavyweight world champion," he said.
"And we know that the Klitschkos were champions for about 10 years. So there’s been another 14 years where other heavyweights couldn’t stop it. So we’ve been chosen.
"And I believe we’re both destined to be here. And there’s only one winner: I’m destined to become undisputed champion."
While Fury is known for his banter, the Briton was direct in addressing what's at stake for him and his opponent.
"We’re not here to talk. It’s not a talking contest. It’s a boxing match," Fury said.
"On February 17, all the talking goes out the window. It doesn’t matter what he or what I said. It comes down to who wins the fight. He thinks he’s going to win. I know I’m going to win. There’s not much more to be said.”