THE time for talking had stopped but the mind games had not yet arrived when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk shared the floor at the final press conference of the evening in Riyadh.
In two days, boxing will become the first vacant heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield 25 years ago. The two men were in the lead enjoying the sights and sounds put on by the Saudi Arabian athletes where Fury and Usyk will fight on Saturday night.
The boxers had very little to say to each other as most of the talking was done by their promoters and managers sitting at the top table next to them.
“This is something special,” said Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren.
“It has everything it takes not just to make a special moment in boxing but a special moment in the history of sports. I support my man because he is the tough guy and he always proved it. For me, he is one of the heavyweights I have seen in boxing and I believe he will prove that on Saturday night.”
Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk changed tactics to make a point by quoting a poem from 19.th Century poet Henry Longfellow called it ‘A Rainy Day’.
“Hush, the heart is broken! and stop repeating;
“Behind the clouds the sun still shines;
“Your end is the end common to all;
“In each life there must be rain;
“Some days should be dark and dry.”
Fury’s manager Spencer Brown has nothing to do or compare but warned Usyk, “This is your Everest to climb. He will take away all your belts.”
Egis Klimas, the long-time manager of the joint champion admitted that the fight will not be a “walk in the park” but he had one specific question for Fury that the other side didn’t bite.
“How did you find yourself the champion of the line? Everyone calls him a line but I would like to know how he became a line. He hit [Wladimir] Klitschko. Klitschko was not a linebacker.”
The history of the heavyweight division was of no concern to anyone except the man who arguably knows more than most is Fury’s American promoter Bob Arum. This 92-year-old player has seen legends come and go to promote the biggest fights in the history of boxing.
“In boxing, there is a saying that the most important division is heavyweight,” he said.
“If we have a chance to be crowned the heavyweight champion that no one holds, as it will be on Saturday night, it is a very important thing. Saturday night will be the most important night in boxing. It won’t end with the undefeated heavyweight crown but the two participants in the fight are undefeated. That’s rare, that’s how big that is. The eyes of the world, not just boxing fans, will be focused on this fight and they believe it will be very good.”
The corners, Sugar Hill Steward and Sergey Lapin, shared different feelings and thoughts about Saturday’s fight. For Steward his life started in boxing around Kronk Gym with his Uncle Emanuel who trained Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and predicted years ago that Fury would be “the next star, the reigning heavyweight”.
“The heavyweight division runs boxing and that’s all we stand for. You couldn’t get better than this. “Emanuel, if he was alive, he would be here,” said Sugar Hill in a depressed state.
Lappin revealed that preparation for Fury began in 2018 and for this fight size does not matter despite the six centimeter advantage the Brit will have on fight night.
“I’d like to wish Tyson patience,” Lappin said, “it’s going to be the hardest night of his life.”
Finally, after everyone involved was thanked multiple times by each person at the top table with a three-way press it came down to Fury and Usyk. The WBC champion is not shy with few words and insults but he was humble once.
“I’m going to make this short and simple. I want to thank Usyk for coming up and challenging me and that’s about it. I am ready for you. All I can say is I’m ready for a good fight. And if it’s hard or easy – either way – I’ll be ready.”
Usyk, who had written a poem while the words were coming from both sides, which he initially revealed as “homework” for hosting Dev Sahni, kept his final words short and simple as well.
“I’m happy to be here. I am happy. I am thankful that this fight is happening. Let’s make history. Enough is enough.”
When all the talk was over, the boxing game changed in an unexpected way when Fury stared forward and did not want to turn around to look Usyk in the eye. The Ukrainian, however, took a close look at his opponent and chose that moment to make another lesson. With that, he left the stage, allowing Fury to be Fury, who transformed and inspired everyone watching.
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