Tyson Fury turns up the heat for the “Ring of Fire” in Riyadh

On May 18th in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as, there is an iconic, unforgettable, sporting event taking place in the dynamic city of Riyadh.

The biggest boxing fight of our generation so far; for the undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the world, sees Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk colliding in the “Ring of Fire”, with the victor seizing all of the Heavyweight belts.

The “Fight of the Century” is staged as part of Vision 2030 led by the Crown Prince, HRH Mohammed bin Salman and organised by the General Entertainment Authority directed by HE Tuki Alalshikh.

On Wednesday, Tyson Fury, known fondly as “The Gypsy King,” gathered his loyal subjects in his court for a press conference in Morcambe UK, to share his thoughts on the contest before he packs his bags for Riyadh.

Reflecting on the unexpected postponement of the fight from February to May due to a freak sparring accident, Fury revealed his outlook on the situation: “At first, I was a little bit depressed for the first day or so, but afterwards, like all things in life, I realised God’s time is impeccable. It’s not late, it’s not early – but it’s bang on time.”

“It wasn’t my time to fight for the championship then, but it is going to be my time on May 18, so I’m really preparing fantastic for it.” he remarked, showcasing his characteristic resilience and faith.

The sheer magnitude of this spectacle hasn’t escaped the man at the centre of it all: “It’s not just a sporting event. It’s a cultural event. And I’m absolutely buzzing for it.”

Tyson’s respect for his opponent, Oleksandr Usyk, was evident as he lauded the Ukrainian’s achievements. “As a fighter, he’s undisputed cruiserweight champion. He’s unified heavyweight champion. So anyone would have to respect the man’s achievements.”

“I’ve seen some stuff in the media, like, this is really personal between me and Oleksandr Usyk. It’s not personal. It’s strictly business for both fighters.”

“I’ve got a tough challenge in front of me, but I’m very confident in my ability and I’m very confident that I’ll beat the guy,” Fury asserted.

“This is a genuine, 50-50 fight. This is not a gimmick. And I believe, with all my heart, that I’ll get the job done, and I’m pretty sure he does too –  that’s what makes this so exciting.”

Despite the mutual respect shared between the two fighters, Fury outlined what he believes will give him the winning edge in the contest, citing the difficulties cruiserweights can have when transitioning up to the heavyweight division.

“Me being an encyclopaedia on boxing; I’ve studied every heavyweight cruiserweight that’s ever lived. When the cruiserweights step up to the big boys, usually they get found wanting.”

“Even the greatest cruiserweights that’s ever lived; Evander Holyfield – when he stepped up to the big boys against Lewis, he was found wanted. You can beat the average big ones, but you can’t beat the elite big ones – because size really matters.”

“If you look at David Haye – he was an explosive, good cruiserweight and good heavyweight. When he fought average heavyweights, he could beat them. But when he stepped up to the big boy in (Vladimir) Klitschko, it wasn’t really a contest.”

“I’m not slagging anybody off, but what I’m saying is these are facts. I’ve studied this game all my life, and you cannot prove it wrong.”

In terms of preparation, Tyson Fury emphasized the importance of effort and consistency. “What I’m trying to do every single day, is just stay disciplined, stay focused, and stay hungry, and, you know, hopefully, that will take me to the next level,” he shared.

“That’s what I’m trying to do, every single day, is just visualize it, believe it, and then achieve it. Just have that mindset of a champion.”

As the countdown to the historic showdown continues, Tyson Fury concluded with a powerful declaration: “This is my time, my era, my generation.”

With both fighters poised to leave everything in the ring, it remains to see which one can best tolerate the heat of the “Ring of Fire”.