Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: The Undisputed Heavyweight Championship
This Saturday, May 18th, the highly anticipated heavyweight match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will finally take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight will be available for streaming on DAZN PPV and ESPN+ Pay-per-view, starting at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Kosport Magazine’s Take on Lack of Buzz in the U.S
It’s interesting to note the lack of buzz in the U.S. surrounding this fight between Fury and Usyk. While it has gained much attention in the UK, it seems that fans in the States are not as interested. Some may see Fury as a washed-up fighter who is only motivated by money at this stage in his career. Some even question if he was ever as good as people thought.
Many still remember Fury’s controversial 10 round split decision win over Francis Ngannou, where he weighed in at 277 lbs and looked out of shape. This could be a reason for the lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming fight.
Fury’s Fading Star Power
Adding to the lack of excitement for this fight is the fact that Fury hasn’t faced a formidable opponent since 2015. In nearly a decade, his opponents have been mediocre at best, leaving many to question why His Excellency even chose him as a worthy contender.
To make this fight more compelling, Fury should have faced and beaten Anthony Joshua, the only other top fighter in the division besides Usyk. It’s a missed opportunity for Fury to prove his worth as a true heavyweight champion.
If Kosport Magazine were in charge, they would have had Fury face some of the younger heavyweights before putting him in a fight for the undisputed championship. This would have been a true test of his skills and determination.
Pricing and Undercard
While the event is relatively affordable at $69.99, the undercard fights leave much to be desired. With only one notable fight between Mairis Briedis and Jai Opetaia for the IBF cruiserweight title, many fans will likely be sleeping through the undercard to save their energy for the main event.
Briedis, at 39 years old, is coming off a loss to Opetaia two years ago. It’s unclear why a rematch was even arranged, especially since Briedis hasn’t fought in two years. It would have been more exciting to see David Benavidez, a young and talented fighter, take on Opetaia for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title.
Not to mention, the other undercard fights are not very impressive. Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace, Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kayael, and a match between 41-year-old Sergey Kovalev and Robin Safar, who hasn’t fought in two years, seem like filler fights and not worth the audience’s time.
In conclusion, while the Fury vs. Usyk fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship may be highly anticipated in the UK, it seems to lack the same excitement in the U.S. due to Fury’s fading star power and the lackluster undercard. However, it will still be a must-watch event for boxing fans, and hopefully, it will live up to the hype.
