Tyson Fury tipped the scales at a career-high 20st 1lb fully dressed, as he prepares to face Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight world title in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Donning a leather jacket, white trousers, and a baseball cap, Fury outweighed his Ukrainian opponent by four stone at the weigh-in, held at a garden-themed theme park in Riyadh. Usyk, defending his WBA (Super), WBC, and WBO titles, weighed in at 16st 1lb, five pounds lighter than their previous fight. Both fighters remained fully clothed, leaving their conditioning unclear.
Despite a relaxed demeanour throughout the week, Fury appeared eager to conclude the weigh-in, walking off without an interview after briefly facing off with Usyk.
Behind the scenes, disputes have emerged over Fury’s beard, cleared despite objections from Usyk’s team citing boxing regulations, and over the replacement of a judge who fell ill.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, suggested a coin toss to resolve the matter. While the fight could sell out stadiums in the UK, its Saudi Arabian venue reflects the Kingdom’s substantial investment in blockbuster boxing.
Local attendance remains modest compared to global interest, but both fighters are set to benefit from a massive prize purse reportedly totaling £150m.