Fury, Usyk set for undisputed heavyweight title fight

Tyson Fury refused to look Oleksandr Usyk in the eye as the two world champions came head to head before Saturday’s undisputed heavyweight title fight.

The winner will be crowned the division’s first undisputed champion in the four-belt era and arguably the greatest heavyweight of a generation.

But the two champions exchanged very few words in a pre-fight news conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Fury, a showman whose antics at such events have created many headlines over the years said he would keep it short and sweet and stuck to his words.

“I’m ready. I’ve got nothing to say. I’m ready for a good fight. If it’s tough or easy. Either way I’ll be ready,” the 35-year-old Briton said.

He thanked Usyk for agreeing to the fight. When asked if he had a message for the Ukrainian, Fury added: “God bless him. I’ll say a prayer for him before the fight for us both to get out of the ring safely.”

Usyk also did not want to engage in any pre-fight trash talk. “Let’s make history. Enough,” he said.

When the two came to the front of the stage for an obligatory face-off, Usyk stood sideways but Fury instead opted to face the crowd front on.

The Gypsy King placed his trilby hat on a member of security, sang along to the music, flexed his muscles and left the stage.