• When: Saturday 21 December 2024 – Main Event Walkthroughs at approximately 1am (10pm GMT)
• Where: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Professional Records (WLD): Fury (34-1-1), Usyk (22-0-0)
• Wins by knockout: Anger (24), Usyk (14)
• Height: Fury – 206 cm (6 ft 9 in), Usyk – 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
• To reach: Fury – 216 cm (85 inches) Usyk – 197 cm (78 inches)

Follow the fight LIVE: Al Jazeera will provide a live set-up and text commentary page from 6pm GMT on Saturday 21 December.

At a media event a few weeks ago, Oleksandr Usyk asked Tyson Fury to sign a photo for him, and the Englishman graciously obliged, even if it was an unflattering picture of Usyk throwing a punch with his left hand Jaws landed that confused his senses in their last fight in May.

The Ukrainian’s narrow victory in this exciting fight in Riyadh made him the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in almost 25 years and handed Fury his first professional defeat.

Back in Riyadh this week for the much-anticipated rematch, the humor and friendliness have evaporated.

“I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain. I’m definitely going to put this shit in the injury locker,” said the 36-year-old Fury at the final media conference on Thursday evening.

When Fury learned that he had been at a menacing level of strength all week, the normally loquacious fighter known as the “Gypsy King” responded:

“The conversation is over. In the first fight I talked, I joked – my whole career (I’ve done that). This time I’m serious.”

Usyk, 37, was even more silent.

“Now we only have one performance; the lectures, cameras, lights and show,” he said. “Everything will take place on Saturday evening.”

Given the opportunity for a duel in the final media conference before their final fight, Fury wouldn’t even look at Usyk, preferring instead to stare into the crowd.

This time they saw each other and a bizarre downward gaze began to unfold. Several minutes passed in silence before they began exchanging words, with Fury eventually hurling insults and sweating in the spotlight. The duel had time to go through different phases: amusing, boring, tormenting, endless. They were finally able to pull away after the 11-minute mark.

It’s hardly surprising that both men are serious considering what’s at stake.

Combat sports commentator Sean Wheelock says although Fury is “clearly one of the greatest heavyweights of this generation”, his rematch with Usyk is a “crossroads fight” for the British boxer.

“I don’t think he’ll have to give up (if he loses), but I don’t think he’d be considered one of the upper echelons of the ‘elite of the elite’ heavyweights. That’s why I think this fight is so crucial for him,” he told Al Jazeera.

While Fury has won five of five of his rematches, Usyk – who moved up to heavyweight several years ago after becoming unified cruiserweight champion – is an unbeaten enigma looking for a win to maintain his status as an all-time great to consolidate.

“Infinitely winnable” fight for both men

Fury put on a show in the first few rounds of their first fight, ambushing and clowning in the corner of the ring and clasping his hands behind his back as Usyk tried to take him down, and the British fighter seemed to die midway through the fight Having taken control Fight, throwing shots while firing jabs and uppercuts into the Ukrainian’s torso and jaw.

But the course of the fight changed in the eighth round when Usyk began to trap Fury and hit him with a brutal overhand left that left his face bleeding. In the ninth round, Usyk landed a barrage of punches that left Fury staggering around the ring, glassy-eyed, until he collapsed dangerously on the ropes and was counted out standing by the referee.

Fury was saved at the bell and somehow recovered to finish the fight, which Usyk won by split decision.

Combat sports analyst Luke Thomas told Al Jazeera he was surprised at how much Fury backed down in that fight, giving space to Usyk despite his significant size and reach advantages and allowing the Ukrainian to punish him on the ropes.

“When (Fury) was able to command the center of the ring, he had a lot more success,” Thomas said.

He said Fury needs to stay ahead in the second fight, throw a consistent number of punches, force Usyk to defend himself and prevent him from having time to calm down.

“You have to keep raining (Usyk). He has to get stuck in a downpour without an umbrella and try to find shelter. And that’s difficult because it’s so labor intensive,” he said.

Fury told reporters this week that he would be less showboating and more punching in this fight.

Thomas says he needs to make his body shots more descriptive.

“Usyk has shown at least some vulnerability with the body,” he said.

Of course, all of this is easier said than done. While Fury has outstanding in-ring skills and is wonderfully skilled and elusive for such a big man, many think Usyk is on another level.

Usyk’s fighting name is “The Cat” because of his speed and agility. He pressures and torments his opponents by dodging punches and setting up his own devastating shots with exceptional footwork, head movement and high guard.

“You’re dealing with a master boxer who knows how to solve almost anything,” Thomas said. “Usyk is one of the best boxers I have ever seen. He’s just so smart, he has so many answers. He has such adaptability.”

Although there is great respect between the fighters, the Ukrainian also seems completely unfazed by Fury’s size or trash talk.

But Usyk meets an incredibly talented and courageous operator who has demonstrated an almost supernatural ability to overcome all odds and get back on his feet.

Fury won his first heavyweight titles in 2015 after outclassing the great Wladimir Klitschko, then returned from severe mental health issues and obesity to defeat knockout artist Deontay Wilder in an epic trilogy to win and retain the WBC belt . His ability to survive Usyk’s attack in the middle of a fight was also amazing.

Wheelock says the rematch is an “infinitely winnable fight for both men” and that whoever gets going early and establishes his range and rhythm will likely win.

“Usyk has to start strong, he has to move, he has to show his speed dominance and he has to land really early and set the pace,” he said.

“And Fury has to land from the outside. He has to earn Usyk’s respect early with power. And he has to really find those long, hard, powerful punches.”

Legacies are at stake

Only three of four belts will be up for grabs this time as the IBF stripped Usyk of the title for failing to face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois after Fury activated the rematch clause in his contract.

If Usyk wins, he could face the winner of Dubois vs. Joseph Parker next, although he has also talked about a return to cruiserweight. If Fury wins, a trilogy with Usyk is almost certain.

Thomas says there is no doubt that a second loss to Usyk would be “pretty devastating” for Fury, but that it would not negate his achievements in the sport.

“I think he clearly wanted to be the best of this generation and therefore one of the best of all time. He would miss that (if he loses), but I think there is no denying that he is still one of the best of this generation and still a special figure who has been an electrifying force in this heavyweight division,” he said.

He says Usyk should already be considered one of the greatest of all time.

“He is the first to unify the belts in the four-belt era,” he said. “These are historic achievements in every sense of the word that would certainly put him in the conversation as one of the best to ever do it.”