The pomp and pageantry that accompanied the fighters' Grand Arrivals in Riyadh on Tuesday was befitting of a showdown between arguably the two best heavyweights in a generation.
On Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC, WBO and WBA world titles against the man he beat by split decision in May to unify boxing's blue riband division.
The unbeaten Ukrainian seems focused on the task at hand. His opponent, Tyson Fury, meanwhile, seems to be looking well beyond Saturday's rematch at the Kingdom Arena.
Fury said he is prioritising a third fight with Usyk over facing Anthony Joshua in a lucrative all-British clash.
That seemed to somewhat contradict comments Fury made last week that a blockbuster clash with Joshua, who suffered a crushing defeat to Daniel Dubois in October, was on his radar, saying that money and not legacy was his driving force.
Of course both can be true, but it does beg the question as to whether Fury is guilty of looking beyond Saturday's encounter against the only fighter he has lost to in his 36-fight career and who is widely regarded as one of the most technical in the game.
“When I win on Saturday night, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Al Arabiya.
“Joshua’s in tatters at the moment. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But the fight with Usyk – one on Saturday and the one afterwards – would be fantastic for me.”
That's not to say Fury is under prepared. Revenge may be new to the 36 year old but will no doubt be a huge motivator as he seeks to join an elite band of heavyweights to win a version of the world title three times.
Neither should anyone judge Fury – or any fighter for that matter – for looking to earn as much money as possible from one of the most dangerous sports there is. Fighters know the risk every time they take up the cudgels, and it's important that when they retire they and their families can enjoy the fruits of their hard-earned labour.
For all Fury's showboating and bombast, one of his most overlooked traits is his bravery. In his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Fury bested the most devastating knockout artist in heavyweight history twice after their first fight ended in a draw.
During that epic first battle, Fury summoned the kind of courage only found in comic books to climb off the canvas after being sparked out in Round 12. Not only did he beat the referee's count, he went on to win the rest of the round convincingly.
In total, Wilder knocked Fury down four times across their three fights. Though Fury prevailed, those close to him say that it came at a huge physical cost, and it is hard to argue that Fury has been the same fighter since.
If Fury's focus is on the next bumper pay cheque instead of outwitting Usyk, the Briton is likely to suffer another defeat that in turn harms his future chances of more lucrative paydays.
Usyk is favourite to repeat his success in May when he became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
A classic encounter saw Fury take control of the middle rounds and he even appeared close to forcing a stoppage in the sixth before Usyk slowly gained the upper hand until letting rip in a dominant ninth.
“He won by one point in a close fight. Good luck to the guy. And we’re going to run it back on Saturday and it’s going to be victory for me,” Fury said.
Clean shaven for his more recent contests, Fury has grown a bushy beard which he is keen to keep even though rules state that a fighter’s jawline must be visible.
“My beard is giving me strength like Samson,” said Fury, in reference to the biblical figure whose strength came from a vow not to cut his hair or shave.
“I’m going to knock him out. It’s the biggest event of my life. From one biggest event to the next biggest event. Looking forward to putting on a show, as always.”
Usyk has become an all-time great having added the undisputed heavyweight crown to the same achievement at cruiserweight, as well as winning Olympic gold at London 2012.
He has been unfazed by Fury’s attempts to unsettle him with mind games and he refused to be provoked when the Briton vowed to knock him out in the first round on Saturday.
“It’s only talk. We’ll see. It’s God’s will. I’m ready, I’m ready to fight. It will be a great fight. I feel I will win,” Usyk said.
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
Types of policy
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Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
