Usyk has message for Ngannou and ‘scared’ Fury before fight
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou weigh-in in Riyadh
Oleksandr Usyk has delivered his final messages to Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou before they duke it out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later tonight. The Ukrainian superstar will be watching from ringside with his fingers crossed, praying that Ngannou doesn’t pull off what would surely go down as one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Providing everything goes to plan Usyk will finally share the ring with Fury on either December 23 or sometime in January for all four major sanctioning body belts. Not since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield all the way back in November 1999 has the undisputed crown been on the line in the glamour division.
So, it comes as no surprise that Usyk is hoping his fierce rival can get out of the crossover clash scot-free. “Francis, be careful with Tyson, I need him in the ring on December 23,” Usyk quipped in a direct message to the Cameroonian MMA star.
But make no mistake, Usyk and Fury are not friends. A warm embrace at the pre-fight gala may have fooled observers into believing that this fight is “just business” but there is a genuine level of spite bubbling beneath the surface.
Fury and Usyk were supposed to face each other earlier this year in April but a breakdown in negotiations over the purse split for the rematch derailed those plans. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion gave into Fury’s demands for a 70/30 split in his adversary’s favour for their inaugural encounter but did so on the understanding that it would be reversed should he win the first fight.
However, according to ESPN, Fury was unwilling to compromise on anything greater than an even share as Usyk and Co pulled the plug on discussions. Fury’s reported concerns about what he would be paid in the event of a loss have led Usyk to claim that the Gypsy King is “scared” – a narrative he has run with throughout the tense build-up.
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“Tyson Fury is the one who talks too much,” Usyk wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in a final swipe at Fury before he squares off with Ngannou. “The idea for this is to get into my head. But the reality is, that I am inside his head. @Tyson_Fury, I know you’re scared to fight me. But, my friend, you’ll have to step in the ring on the 23rd of December with me. And you will get beaten.”
In a similar vein, Fury also believes Usyk is terrified of facing him. “Your full team knows it as well and all the lawyers have gotten full information. You little ugly b****, keep running,” said Fury after their fight broke down earlier this year. “You could never tango with the Gypsy King, you s***house little coward.”
Yet despite all the talk, both men will finally go toe to toe at the back end of the year. And with the ultimate prize on the line, there will be no place for fear.
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