Tyson Fury has weighed in at a career-high 281 pounds ahead of his heavyweight championship rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh tomorrow night.
The British heavyweight came in more than four stone heavier than his Ukrainian rival, who tipped the scales at 226 pounds during Friday’s weigh-in at the Wonder Garden carnival.
The dramatic weight disparity marks one of the largest differences between the two fighters in their rivalry, with Fury appearing significantly bulkier than in their previous encounter.
Fury’s latest weigh-in marks a significant increase from his 262-pound weight before losing to Usyk in May, having gained more than a stone in the past seven months.
The Gypsy King appeared on the scales fully clothed, wearing a leather jacket, jeans and shoes, which may have contributed to the reading.
Usyk, meanwhile, has added just three pounds since their first encounter, having previously weighed 223 pounds in their May bout.
The brief face-off that followed lasted mere seconds, in stark contrast to Thursday’s 12-minute staredown at the press conference.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have come in and vastly different weights
Reuters
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren predicted an intense battle ahead, stating: “There’s going to be a war tomorrow. Tyson has come to get those belts back; that’s what he’s here for, that’s what he’s sacrificed for.”
Warren noted the unprecedented intensity between the fighters, saying: “I’ve never seen anything like it. It shows the intensity of both guys.”
“This is a different Tyson Fury. We’ve never seen him so serious,” Warren added, highlighting the challenger’s focused mindset.
Tyson Fury is the heaviest he’s ever been
Reuters
The 55-pound weight difference between the fighters could signal contrasting strategies for tomorrow night’s bout.
Fury’s increased bulk suggests he might employ a similar approach to his 2020 rematch with Deontay Wilder, where he weighed 277.7 pounds and pursued a seek-and-destroy strategy.
The size disparity is particularly striking given Usyk’s background, with this being only his seventh fight in the heavyweight division after moving up from cruiserweight.
Tyson Fury is the slight underdog against Oleksandr Usyk
Reuters
Fury declined to speak to media after the weigh-in, while Usyk simply stated: “My angel helps me, my God Jesus helps me.”
The rematch preparations have been marked by several controversies, including a dispute over the replacement of judge Fernando Barbosa, who fell ill and couldn’t travel to Riyadh.
Usyk’s team also requested changes to the ring canvas, believing the stitching from the first fight posed a trip hazard. Organisers have since modified the design to place the stitching underneath.
A further dispute arose over Fury’s facial hair, with Usyk requesting his challenger shave before the fight. The Middle Eastern Commission rejected this request, allowing Fury to keep his beard.