Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world at Riyadh on February 18 (NZ time).
Briton Fury is the WBC world champion, while Ukrainian Usyk holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts. Both have unbeaten records.
Fury won the WBC title, when he defeated Deontay Wilder in February 2020, while Usyk has held his four belts, since he defeated Anthony Joshua in September 2021.
Contracts were signed in September for a proposed December 23 date, but that was never confirmed and slid, after Fury's near-defeat to former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a non-title bout in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
Heavyweight boxing's last undisputed world champion was Britain's Lennox Lewis in 1999.
After the announcement, a tense confrontation occurred between the boxers during a press conference, resulting in their eventual separation.
"You're welcome to be sharing a ring with the future undisputed heavyweight champion - me," said Fury, 35.
"You know what's coming, you're getting smashed to pieces. You're fighting the best British heavyweight there's ever been."
Usyk, 36, responded that he did not listen to anything Fury said, focusing on the match.
"When the Lord gives me Tyson in my hands, I will do my job," he said.
Later, Usyk said he saw the match as a chance to give back to all those who supported him.
"Its a big opportunity, [being] undisputed, for my family, country and people who now defend my country," he said.
Reuters
