SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 5: TYSON FURY VS. OLEKSANDR USYK UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ON FEBRUARY 17
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 04 Jan 2024
Tyson Fury, the WBC and lineal heavyweight champion, stakes his title belts against WBO, IBF, and WBA unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event happens as part of the Riyadh Season.
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Whoever wins this epic match will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Britain’s Lennox Lewis seized the accolade 25 years ago in November 1999.
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Lewis then held the WBC, WBA, IBF, and IBO belts after beating Evander Holyfield by unanimous decision.
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The fight with Usyk will be the second bout of Fury in the Riyadh Season after winning against Francis Ngannou on October 28. Ngannou, the MMA fighter making his boxing debut, knocked Fury down in the third round and lost by a narrow split decision, but many fans believed the Cameroonian should have won the fight.
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Dubbed as "Ring of Fire," Fury vs Usyk will spur interest in the heavyweight division again, as Saudi investors saw the success of "‘Day of Reckoning" featuring Fury vs. Ngannou.
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Fury promised not to pull out of the Usyk fight. He denied all the talk that he is scared and he doesn’t want to fight. Unless Usyk pulls out, the fight is happening, added Fury.
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Fury’s promoter assured that the fight would really happen after Fury pulled out of a December 23 match. He said Fury had already pulled out once.
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Usyk’s team retaliated, stating they expected Fury to be a man of his word and that Usyk would not cancel the fight any further. During a media interview, Usyk said he will do his talking in the ring.
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The great soccer legend Pelé was honored on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, one year after the three-time World Cup winner’s death at age 82 due to colon cancer. A ceremony was held at Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, one of Brazil's most iconic spot. It featured a projection of a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name and number 10 on the statue and a message from Pope Francis, himself a former soccer player. Pelé was a devout Catholic all throughout his life.
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Former NBA All-Star center Dwight Howard will lead an impregnable Strong Group that will represent the Philippines in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship from January 19 to 28, 2023.
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Howard, 38, is a multi-awarded NBA veteran who won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. An eight-time All-Star and member of the All-NBA team, he will join forces with several former NBA players like Andray Blatche and Andre Roberson to reinforce the team owned by Frank Lao.
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Sports History: January 5, 1953. Dwight Muhammad Qawi was born, world champion in two weight divisions (WBC light heavyweight title and WBA cruiserweight title) and inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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