The wait is nearly over as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk prepare to trade leather in a bid to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

Lennox Lewis was the last heavyweight to hold the undisputed crown, but it has been 24 years since anyone has dominated the division.

Only five fighters have ever called themselves undisputed heavyweight champion, and there will be five versions of the world title up for grabs during Saturday’s bout in Riyadh.

Tips:

• Tyson Fury to win by decision or technical decision @ 15/8
• Two or more knockdowns @ 10/3

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Fury to add to his legacy

Fury and Usyk will finally meet inside the squared circle, months after the original bout was postponed after the former suffered a cut in sparring.

The conspiracy theorists suggested Fury picked up the cut on purpose or even feigned the injury, but everything looks on track for Saturday’s battle.

Both men come into the contest undefeated, but it is Fury that is the more natural heavyweight. The Manchester fighter has won 34 of his 35 fights since turning professional, with one scored a draw against Deontay Wilder, while Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight world champion before moving up in weight.

Since moving to heavyweight, Usyk has beaten Chazz Witherspoon, Derek Chisora, Anthony Joshua twice, and Daniel Dubois, and he won all of those fights convincingly.

However, Fury will be the biggest man he will have ever faced and both have similar qualities. Usyk is a terrific counter-puncher and he picks his shots, but he will concede height and reach to Fury, who is also a master at using his jab and finding a way to win, even when his back is against the wall.

Many have claimed Fury will use his weight against Usyk, but the Ukrainian is too smart and crafty to let that happen and we could be in for a dull opening.

Both men will be desperate to grab the early initiative, but to do that they may use a patient approach to begin with. However, as the fight reaches those Championship rounds, Fury should be able to grind Usyk down.

This fight will be close and some rounds could be decided by a coin toss, but Fury has too much in his favour in this battle.

Expect both men to hit the canvas

While a slow start should be expected between the pair, they both have the tools to hurt each other. Usyk previously hit the canvas during his fight with Dubois following a body shot, but the referee felt that blow was illegal

Fury will look to target the body, while he has shown he is vulnerable too. Wilder hurt him several times during their trilogy, while he was rocked by Francis Ngannou before winning on points.

Usyk doesn’t carry the same power as those two men, but he is the sharper puncher and may catch Fury off guard from his southpaw stance. Both men are tough and will not go down without a scrap, so there’s every chance there will be multiple knockdowns by the time we hear the final bell.

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*odds correct at the time of writing and subject to change

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