It’s the question on the lips of every sports fan: who will win the fight of the century and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world?
Both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have the perfect blend of brains and brawn, but only one can unite the sport’s glamor division for the first time since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Saturday’s showdown in Riyadh will see two undefeated heavyweight stars clash for the first time in a fight that has been long in the making.
Fury wants to complete his journey from retired star to unified world heavyweight champion, while Usyk wants to deliver one of boxing’s biggest shocks.
Here, Mail Sport asked the great and good of the boxing world for the ultimate tipster’s guide to who will be the last man standing…
Tyson Fury (left) and Oleksandr Usyk (right) will look to unify the heavyweight division
Fury and Usyk will face off in a huge heavyweight showdown in Riyadh on Saturday
LENNOX LEWIS, former world heavyweight champion
I’m a Tyson Fury fan. But ask me who will take over from me and my professional judgment is Fury. Not just because he’s bigger.
Usyk is very smart, with brilliant moves and he is fast. But Tyson is a great athlete for such a big man. The bigger man will win.
WINNER: FURY
Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis believes Fury’s size and skill will see him beat Usyk
ROY JONES JNR, four-weight world champion
Fury fights to the level of his opposition. He did not feel threatened by Francis Ngannou. Oleksandr Usyk is a threat and he is going to fight Usyk in a completely different way than how he fought Ngannou.
But thanks to Francis Ngannou, Oleksandr Usyk will now have a lot more confidence. My prediction before that fight was that Fury would win, but that makes it a lot more difficult now. But I have to go with Fury.
WINNER: FURY
Fourweight World Champion Roy Jones Jr. expect Fury to emerge victorious in Riyadh
RICKY HATTON, three-time world champion
I expect Tyson to come out on top, but this fight will be deep in the rounds. It will be a chess match.
Who gets a little dizzy; a little careless, will lose the battle. They are both master technicians at the top of their game.
WINNER: FURY LEAVES
Ricky Hatton believes Fury will come out on top in the final rounds battle against Usyk
DAVID HAYE, former world heavyweight champion
I believe Usyk will win the fight and I think there will be a lot of controversy. I see a controversial majority draw – I think two judges will have a tie and one judge will have a tie for Usyk.
WINNER: USYK BY SPLIT DECISION
Former world heavyweight champion has made the surprise call to back Usyk to win
TONY BELLEW, former world cruiserweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk will lead, Fury will chase and Fury will lose wide on points. The only outcome that will completely shock me in this fight is Usyk stopping Fury.
That’s the one outcome I don’t see happening. For everything else I can make a case.
WINNER: USYK ON POINTS
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew believes Usyk will win the fight on points
FRANK WARREN, Fury’s promoter
I think Tyson will prove his superiority very early in the fight. I think he will work behind his jab. I think his speed is also key to this and I think he’s built for speed at this point.
I think he will wear Usyk down in a very, very competitive fight. I see him stopping him halfway through the stage.
WINNER: FURY BY KNOCKOUT
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren expects the Englishman to wear down his opponent and claim a victory via knockout
JOSEPH PARKER, former world heavyweight champion
Fury will stop Usyk in the later rounds. He always finds a way to win, Tyson. And I know he’s going to be lighter for this fight. He probably wants to get on his feet faster. Usyk is a very cunning fighter.
You know, he’s got great footwork and he comes in and out from different angles, and he throws a lot of punches.
But I feel like there’s a saying where a good big man always beats a good little man.
WINNER: FURY BY KNOCKOUT
Former world heavyweight champion expects Usyk to be strong, but is knocked out by Fury
EVANDER HOLYFIELD, former heavyweight and cruiserweight champion of the world
Usyk actually has the advantage because he’s the smaller guy, but he also has good punching power and quick hands. He’s one of those guys, just look at him and you know he’s trouble.
He has that look on his face where you know he is winning to get through everything. But if Fury can keep him out there and keep hitting him with the jab, he will win.
WINNER: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Evander Holyfield couldn’t decide
AMIR KHAN, former unified light welterweight world champion
I have Fury winning the fight on points, unanimous decision. But don’t be surprised if at the start of the fight you see Usyk turning up the pressure and winning a few rounds.
Halfway through, after three four rounds, he will take full control, push him back and hurt Usyk.
I don’t think there will be any knockdowns or knockouts. It will be a stylish fight, where you have two experienced fighters.
WINNER: FURY BY UNANIMOUS DECISION
Amir Khan (centre) expects Fury to win by unanimous decision after claiming neither fighter would be knocked out
DEREK CHISORA, former European heavyweight champion
I see the British man winning. I’m not sure how he’ll do, but he’ll win. However, it doesn’t matter: winning with a penalty or winning with my own goal is winning.
WINNER: FURY
Derek Chisora (left) – who lost to Fury two years ago – has backed the Englishman to win
JOHNNY NELSON, longest reigning cruiserweight world champion (1999-2006)
I had a dream, seriously, and they’re usually accurate. Fury screamed and held me by the scruff of the neck and said, “I won that, you know that!” So with that in mind, I’m going to have Fury winning by a controversial points decision.
WINNER: RAGE ON POINTS
Longest reigning world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson expects Fury to win
GENERAL VERDICT: The prevailing consensus is that Tyson Fury will beat Oleksandr Usyk on points to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Our experts consider the fight a very tactical match, although Frank Warren and Joseph Parker are backing the Brit to knock out Usyk.