Undisputed.

Who’d have thought? All four belts on the line in the heavyweight division. This isn’t big time boxing; it’s massive time boxing. Whatever you’re doing Saturday Night, tune in. Because this doesn’t come around often.

I’ll put it into context. Before the four belt era (WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO), it was the three belt era. The WBO wasn’t considered a World Title. A bit like how people don’t see the IBO as a World Title these days (or a recognised/legitimate World Title). And the last man to be crowned the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World was Lennox Lewis, after his rematch against Evander Holyfield way back in November, 1999. The WBA, WBC & IBF World Titles were on the line (those of which Lennox Lewis won over 12 Rounds).

Fast forward to just under 25 years later, and we can finally say we have seen an Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion in the four belt era. However, there will also be the IBO World Title on the line, the Coveted Ring Magazine World Title (considered the best of them all) and of course the newly created ‘Undisputed Belt’, brought to life by his excellency, Turki Alalshikh.

To put this into further context, this fight is massive. Massive for the Heavyweight Division, massive for Boxing and massive for sport in general. It doesn’t really get bigger than this. Yes, Tyson Fury Vs Anthony Joshua is a massive fight, but with regards to the best fighting the best, with every single belt on offer for the winner and their unbeaten record maintained, this is incredible.

If you were tell me five years ago that Tyson Fury would be facing off against Oleksandr Usyk for all of the Heavyweight Belts in Saudi Arabia, I’d have laughed my head off. He had just come off the canvas against Deontay Wilder in a monumental comeback, and from there I’d have never have thought that he would have got the Wilder rematch, let alone beat him twice, fight at Wembley in the defence against Dillian Whyte, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the trilogy against Derek Chisora and then face off Francis Ngannou in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in an exhibition against the MMA Heavyweight World Champion.

*Tyson Fury & Oleksandr Usyk first came head-to-head back in December 2022 after Fury defeated Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium*

It’s all been a bit of a dream land for Tyson Fury in the past few years. Coming back from the depths of despair after the Victory over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, where Fury spent nearly three years out of the ring, to this monumental moment on Saturday Night is simply staggering. I have ran out superlatives to describe that feat, and Tyson Fury keeps on pushing the boundaries of his limitations.

Oleksandr Usyk really has been seen as the bogeyman of boxing. Nobody wants to fight him for the fact of his sheer brilliance in the ring. After winning the World Boxing Super Series back in July 2018 and securing all of the Cruiserweight World Titles to become Undisputed, Usyks popularity skyrocketed. One last defence against Tony Bellew in November 2018 would be his last at Cruiserweight, where he would then head to the summit of the Heavyweight Division with victories over Chazz Witherspoon (don’t worry about this one), Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua X2 and Daniel Dubois.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Oleksander Usyk v Anthony Joshua, IBF, WBA, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Title Fight. 21 August 2022 Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing Oleksander Usyk celebrates his Split Decision Win

Oleksandr Usyk has defeated everyone put in front of him so far, both in the Cruiserweight & Heavyweight Division. I can’t put my finger on exactly why he is so good. Does he knock everyone out? No. Does he win every single round in a fight? No. But what he does do is sense where the fight is going, and implements a game plan quickly. For example, in the victory over Tony Bellew back in November 2018, Bellew was winning rounds. To the point where it was looking as though he could go on and be quite successful in the fight. However, come the 7th Round, Bellew looked exhausted. By the 8th Round, Bellew was knocked out. It is as if Usyk knows the perfect timing for any situation. Is someone tired? Step on the gas. Is someone pressuring me? Stick behind the jab and fire back to put that fire out. He is so incredibly well equipped to timings.

Oleksandr Usyk at the weigh-in for his final fight at Cruiserweight against Tony Bellew, November 2018.

Verdict

At this moment in time, I really do not have a clue. My heart is saying Fury, but there is a niggling feeling in my head that Usyk will prevail. I am completely split down the middle. And I don’t know why.

I am always under that assumption that there are Weight Classes for a reason, and this is what will be in Furys favour. The sheer height and weight of the man will drain the smaller Usyk, which is what I am hoping for.

Anthony Joshua, Derek Chisora, Daniel Dubois and Tony Bellew all won rounds against Oleksandr Usyk, and this is what I am hoping Tyson Fury will do over 12 Rounds. However, if Fury ‘old mans’ Usyk, he may even stop him late between Rounds 10-12. We can only sit and wait.

Undercard

The fight of the night on the undercard has to go Jai Opetaia Vs Mairis Breidis in their rematch from back in July 2022, where Mairis Breidis lost his IBF & The Ring Magazine world titles to Opetaia. The fight itself was one way traffic for Opetaia, who won the fight comfortably over 12 Rounds. Opetaia has been active since this fight with two fights since the first fight with Mairis Breidis, and the vacant IBF Cruiserweight World Title will be back on the line. I don’t think you can look beyond another victory for Jai Opetaia, potentially via stoppage.

Joe Cordina defends his IBF Super Featherweight World Title against Anthony Cacace in a fantastic domestic match up which adds an additional World Title fight to the card. Cordina will be looking to remain undefeated, and then hoping to move into Unification Fights.

Agit Kabayel Vs Frank Sanchez is a very intriguing match up for the Heavyweight Division. Both men are 24-0 and ranked in the Top 10 in the World Rankings. Although lower down the card, this could be a barn burner. I feel Kabayel has a point to prove at this level, and will have a bit too much experience for Sanchez.

Sergey Kovalev returns to the ring nearly exactly two years since his last fight in May 2022, and will be looking to return to winning ways with a victory over Robin Sirwan Safar. Mark Chamberlain vs Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab to make up the rest of the main broadcast which will kick off proceedings.

I cannot wait for this fight night. A fight night which I haven’t been so excited for a very long time. This is massive time boxing, and a fight like this will not be seen again for a long time to come.

Catch all of the action live on Sky Sports Box Office, TNT Box Office or DAZN Box Office in the UK. Coverage of the build-up begins at 4pm UK time, with the before the bell action on DAZN and the undercard being shown on Sky Sports Arena before the main broadcast shifts to the PPV Platform.

Finally. The wait is over for an Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion. X