This Saturday, Riyadh will once again be the epicenter for heavyweight boxing as Oleksandr Usyk defends his unified heavyweight titles against Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated rematch at the Kingdom Arena. The two world-class fighters previously faced off in May, where Usyk narrowly claimed victory via a split decision after 12 competitive rounds, marking a historic milestone by becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.
Usyk, who made a successful transition from being the undisputed cruiserweight champion, is now one of only three fighters to achieve the status of undisputed champion in two weight classes within the four-belt era. The rematch will see Usyk putting his WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles on the line, while he has vacated the IBF belt during the summer, leading to Daniel Dubois being elevated as the champion.
In addition to the main event, the fight card featured an exciting undercard with several notable matches. Serhii Bohachuk secured a victory over Ishmael Davis by TKO in Round 6, while Johnny Fisher won a contentious split decision against Dave Allen after surviving a knockdown. Other winners on the undercard included Lee McGregor, Peter McGrail, Daniel Lapin, Andrii Novytskyi, and Mohammad Alakel, all of whom claimed unanimous decisions in their bouts.
As the main event approaches, fans are eager to see if Usyk can defend his titles again against a determined Fury, who seeks to reclaim his lineal crown after suffering his first career loss to Usyk. The atmosphere promises to be electric, with coverage starting at 10 a.m. CT and pivotal ring walks for the main event expected around 5 p.m. CT.
In a modern twist, the match will incorporate the use of an AI judge to score the contest and track live metrics throughout the fight, although the official outcome will still rely on three professional judges.
As we await the ring walks, it’s clear that this clash is set to resonate deeply within the boxing community and beyond, reflecting both fighters’ legacies and the charm of heavyweight boxing as a whole.
Remember to catch the action live on DAZN pay-per-view, which offers viewers a chance to witness this monumental event in boxing history as it unfolds.