Hype fatigue sets in as the world awaits the Fury-Usyk showdown in the far reaches of Riyadh

“God bless him,” replied Tyson Fury from the top ranks at the final press conference for his fight with Oleksandr Usyk when he was encouraged to send his opponent “one last message.”

“I'm going to pray for him before we go out that we both get the ring out in one piece and go home to our families,” the 35-year-old continued, “because that's what it's about.”

Whether Fury who started the week of the biggest fight of his life being asked about the recent tragic death of British champion Sherif Lawal had an effect on him ending Thursday's press conference as it did is not clear. In most respects it is also probably irrelevant. At 10pm in the soulless Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh, what else could he have said?

He and Usyk were asked about each other, repeatedly, before and after Fury's victory over Francis Ngannou at the same venue in October, ahead of their expected fight in December 2023. They were also asked about each other until theirs continued. The rescheduled date in February was postponed, and they have repeatedly answered questions about each other since then.

They crossed paths on Monday at the luxury Hilton hotel, while doing a series of interviews. They spoke again when the beautiful crowd arrived on Tuesday evening at BLVD City, possibly the most exciting entertainment center to be found anywhere in the Middle East. After twenty-four hours, at this stage they had “arrived”, they did an open workout – and after 24 hours they returned to the same place and sat at the top table of the press conference that was intended to announce their news. I fought again.

It has been said, over and over, that 25 years have passed since the last undisputed heavyweight title fight took place, that Lennox Lewis and fellow fighter Evander Holyfield were involved, even Emanuel Steward – of the same Kronk Gym as Sugahill Steward . , Fury's coach on Saturday – was involved. Less talked about are the places where Lewis and Holyfield – who arrived in Riyadh – fought, and perhaps because their fight in Las Vegas and their first fight in Madison Square Garden in New York provide a kind of richer history than God. The people of Saudi Arabia could not buy.

The 1999 Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis undisputed heavyweight title fight that took place in New York City and Las Vegas became a huge hit.

If Fury's reluctance to host Thursday night's almost unprecedented turnout is indicative of not only his respect for Usyk but his focus when those closest to him seem tired and fed up with the constant noise.

A battle that is attractive enough in the city of a true war – Vegas and New York stand out among them – therefore often guarantees a sense of momentum and growing energy and anticipation that means that those responsible for leading the promotion of the war rarely need to try to satisfy. Fury-Usyk is the most important fight of a quarter of a century but those involved, not helped by how far Riyadh is from a culture where high-level fights are always important, seem close to losing their minds.

Nothing will affect the early hours of Sunday morning, when two of the best heavyweights in the world – evenly matched and impressive – stand in opposite corners of the ring at the Kingdom Arena awaiting the opening bell. Riyadh will always be the place that hosted the most important fights – and perhaps the only one with the resources and desire to make it happen – but unlike when Fury fought Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles in 2018 and his promoter Frank Warren would be happy to find out. both the tension and the growing expectation, those who were present in 2024 realize that in Riyadh there is actually no such thing.

Usyk and Anthony Joshua were never considered the two best players in the world when they fought in London in 2021 but it is true that Usyk was very happy at this event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The sense of catharsis and post-pandemic celebrations from the 66,287 attendees created a memorable atmosphere in what remains his finest hour; and, using one of the boxing gloves no longer needed in Riyadh, allowed him to enter the lions' den.

Usyk's first win over Anthony Joshua took place in front of 60,000 plus fans at Hotspur Stadium in Tottenham, England. Photo by Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing

He did the same three years ago in Moscow, beating Russia's Murat Gassiev against an undisputed foe, and in a 2022 rematch with Joshua in Jeddah – also in Saudi Arabia – he fought. for the first time since Russia launched a murderous attack on his country and perhaps confirmed that his resolve is at an all-time high.

In 2024 Russia's atrocities in Ukraine are of little concern to those outside its borders, and will no longer be the dominant issue surrounding Fury-Usyk in Saudi Arabia due to the apparently good relationship that exists between Vladimir Putin and the Crown. Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

If Fury-Usyk had been held in a more appropriate place it would not have changed the almost reduced attraction that will be there when they finally – and at a time when they are always competitively aligned and close to their incredible peaks – reach the ring. . But if that were the case, the last days before then would be memorable and for many involved happy instead of forgotten and endured.

On Friday, Fury and Usyk will weigh in, not looking at each other or seeing eye to eye when ordered to face each other, and will feel the tension and tension that is inevitable on the day before their big fight.

They will then be asked to speak again, and they may have very little to offer, and mainly because as a fighting ground Riyadh has little to offer, and also because for the fourth time in four days they will be standing in the same place again. unusual place.