Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk share unexpected embrace ahead of his Battle of the Baddest fight against Francis Ngannou after the date announcement for their Christmas clash
- Tyson Fury will take on Francis Ngannou in a crossover fight on Saturday
- The Gypsy King has also agreed terms to face Oleksandr Usyk in December
- LISTEN: Exclusive Tyson Fury interview on THE HOOK – our new boxing podcast
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk faced off in Saudi Arabia on Saturday ahead of the Gypsy King’s fight against Francis Ngannou.
Fury and Usyk – arguably the two biggest fighters in boxing right now – signed a contract last month for an undisputed world heavyweight title fight later this year, with the fight set to take place in Riyadh on December 23.
It came after much back and forth over the past 12 months, with talks breaking down earlier this year before terms were finally agreed.
The pair have regularly exchanged various insults in recent times – including Fury branding Usyk a ‘sausage’ – before bumping into each other after walking a red carpet of boxing royalty ahead of a gala dinner on the eve of Fury-Ngannou.
And the pair shared an unexpected embrace, before the Ukrainian lifted his rival champion.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk shared an unexpected embrace in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening
The rival champions have agreed terms to compete in a blockbuster event on December 23
During the embrace, Usyk then lifted Fury – who recently called the Ukrainian a ‘sausage’
The Gypsy King was heard joking with Usyk as he said: “Come on then. Hug it out. Come on, give me a hug brother,” before adding, “Ah, I needed that.”
Usyk – who will be ringside tomorrow – also announced he will be ready to fight Fury for the undisputed world heavyweight title here on December 23.
He then laughed off speculation that he would seek a postponement so he could undertake a fourteen-week training camp before the biggest fight of their lives.
He said, ‘Fourteen weeks? Imagine how tired I would be. I’m here and ready to go on the 23rd. Then we’ll enjoy Christmas.’
Speaking to Mail Sport earlier this week, Fury had warned Usyk not to steal the show on Saturday despite his ringside seat.
He said: “I say this, damn Usyk. It’s not about him. This is the Tyson Fury show. It’s about me and Francis Ngannou.
“The African king meets the gypsy king and you know what, we throw it down.
“So anything that happens after that, anything that happens after that, and anything that comes before that, is not important.”
Fury will take on MMA star Francis Ngannou in a crossover fight on Saturday evening