Watch: Oleksandr Usyk Lifting Up 6”9’ Tyson Fury and Calling Him ‘Cruiserweight’ Leaves Boxing World Stunned

The long-awaited day for both Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou is finally almost here. The behemoths of the heavyweight class are finally all set to face one another in the ring. After this fight against former UFC Heavyweight champion Ngannou, Fury is looking forward to a fight against Oleksandr Usyk for a shot at becoming the first undisputed champion in the division.

The apparent huge size difference between the two has always been a point that Fury’s fans have used to claim his easy victory over the Ukrainian. After all, with the giant stature of 6’9 Fury towers over all of the fighters in the heavyweight division, including 6’3 Usyk. However, recently, Usyk showed that size may not make that much of a difference when they fight, eventually.

Oleksandr Usyk calls Tyson Fury a “cruiserweight”

The Gypsy King’s discontent over the potential delay of their unification bout was not evident during their meeting in Riyadh. Tyson Fury’s reaction to Oleksandr Usyk’s unexpected appearance was quite surprising. As Fury geared up for his crossover fight against UFC legend Francis Ngannou, he approached Usyk in the Saudi Arabian capital. Furthermore, he had earlier referred to Usyk as a “sausage” and cautioned that legal action might be taken if their scheduled December bout were postponed.

Fury believed Usyk’s demand for a 12-week training period would violate their contract, potentially delaying the fight to the following year. Amid the swarm of cameras and onlookers in Riyadh, a smiling Fury extended an invitation, saying, “Come on, then, hug it out. Come on, fella, give me a hug.” Usyk initially appeared perplexed but eventually responded with a robust bear hug, lifting Fury off the ground. Moreover, the humorous moment was punctuated by the Gypsy King remarking, “Aaah, I needed that hug.”

Later on, when he was asked about him lifting up Fury so easily by a surprised reporter, Usyk appeared nonchalant about it. He stated, “Tyson not heavy, you know.” Moreover, he even added, “[He’s] cruiserweight. Yes. Rabbit.”

Fury vs Francis Ngannou finally at hand

At their weigh-in, Tyson Fury likened his bout with Francis Ngannou to a table tennis champion challenging Djokovic at Wimbledon, highlighting the stark contrast in their backgrounds. Fury, the 35-year-old WBC heavyweight champion, dismissed Ngannou’s punching prowess. He weighed in at 277.7 pounds, while Ngannou, the 37-year-old Cameroonian making his professional boxing debut, scaled 272.1 pounds. Fury stated, “It’s like a table tennis champion facing Djokovic in the Wimbledon final — totally different.”

Read More: Tyson Fury Remains Brutally Honest About “Lot on the Line” for Him Ahead of Francis Ngannou Mega-Fight

In a face-off, Fury pressed his forehead against Ngannou, who responded with a chest bump. Ngannou downplayed Fury’s theatrics, acknowledging it as part of the game. Both fighters anticipated a swift resolution to their clash, with Ngannou stating they might take a few initial minutes but expecting a speedy finish. The self-proclaimed “Gypsy King,” Fury, is set to pocket a reported $50 million for this Saudi Arabian fight, a 10-round official bout recognized by the WBC, although Fury’s belt won’t be on the line. He vowed to keep it short and sweet, confident in his victory.

Afterward, he plans to take a week off before discussing potential future fights. What do you think about the match-up between the two giants? Do share your thoughts in the comments.

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