BOXING

How to get there, Experience Riyadh for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2…

By Admin November 21, 2024

How to get there Experience Riyadh for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2: How to get there, where to stay, things to see & more

A huge heavyweight ring rematch looms large on the horizon as the Riyadh Season continues to bring the thrills

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury rekindle their ring relationship this December, as the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosts another huge boxing extravaganza. ‘The Gypsy King’, Tyson Fury, enters the Riyadh ring on Saturday, December 21, aiming to avenge his first-ever professional defeat. The British boxer missed his chance to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion this millennium back in May. Instead, that honour went to Usyk, who won their first encounter in a split decision to claim all four world heavyweight belts. The full set of titles won’t be up for grabs on this occasion, with the IBF crown currently sitting pretty on Daniel Dubois’s head, with Usyk having vacated that belt earlier this year. That fact, of course, doesn’t detract from the enormity of the December clash.

Usyk vs Fury will go head-to-head once again at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The arena is located in the area known as Boulevard City, in the northwest region of Riyadh. Construction of Kingdom Arena (initially known as the Boulevard Hall) began in mid-2023. It was intended to be an entertainment focal point, hosting events associated with the winter Riyadh Season, where the world’s best athletes and artists would meet, converge and perform. In September 2023, the Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) made a major investment in the venue, and Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal would begin playing regular home games there. As part of the agreement, KHC also received the naming rights to the stadium. In October 2023, the annual Riyadh Season activities got underway at the Kingdom Arena, when it held the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou heavyweight encounter. Several epic boxing clashes have taken place at the venue over the past year, including Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou (March 2024), Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (May 2024) & Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol (October 2024).

Riyadh Season, which is a series of entertainment, cultural, and sporting events held in the Saudi Arabian capital, has helped raise the profile of the city of Riyadh and the nation of Saudi Arabia as a whole in recent years. Riyadh Season, first introduced in 2019, typically runs from October through to March, with events and experiences dispersed into ‘zones’ that now include the likes of Kingdom Arena, Boulevard City, Boulevard World, Riyadh Zoo and Wonder Garden. The inaugural edition of Riyadh Season proved to be a huge success, resulting in a sizable increase in tourism, with 11 million people visiting Riyadh during the 66-day period. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority also estimated that the combined 2019 Season events generated SAR 6 billion in revenue. Riyadh Season continues to expand and grow each year, and the 2024 edition is proving to be the biggest and best yet.

The city of Riyadh is situated at the centre of the Arabian peninsula and is not only the capital but also the largest city in Saudi Arabia. With a population of over 7 million, it is a bustling metropolis that offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors. Riyadh holds a significant position as the cultural capital of Saudi Arabia, boasting a rich history and heritage that dates back centuries, but if you’re looking for a luxury city break or to take in an event or show, Riyadh definitely ticks all those boxes too these days.

Riyadh is home to some of Saudi Arabia’s most extraordinary sites of natural and historical beauty and is a must-visit destination for any cultural enthusiast, with the added benefit of numerous art galleries and historical centres to explore. While Riyadh is known for its rich history, it is also a city of modern architecture. The cityscape is filled with stunning contemporary buildings and structures that showcase the country’s commitment to innovation and development. Riyadh is also the perfect location for shopping addicts. The city is home to numerous modern malls and traditional souks where you can find everything from luxury brands to local handicrafts. Riyadh has it all, whether you’re travelling to Riyadh for a standout event, like Usyk v Tyson 2, travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business.

Flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh is served by King Khalid International Airport, which HRH King Fahd opened on 16 November 1983. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and its partner airlines run numerous regular flights to Riyadh from all over the globe.

Exploring and planning your route to Riyadh via Etihad Airways is the best option, allowing you to compare prices and flight times and find the best option for you.

Tickets to Usyk vs Fury 2

Demand for tickets to Reignited 2: Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury has obviously been very high, but tickets are still available, ranging from 50-1000 SAR ($20-250 / £10-200). For the latest ticket news and availability, go to Webook, the official ticketing platform for Riyadh Season events.

The Usyk v Fury undercard is due to get underway at 10 pm local Riyadh time (2 pm ET / 7 pm GMT), with main event ring walks commencing at approximately 2 am Sunday local time (6 pm ET / 11 pm GMT). Yet again, for a Riyadh Season event, it will deliver a thrilling undercard that includes the likes of Israil Madrimov v Serhii Bohachuk (super welterweight), Dennis McCann v Peter McGrail (super bantamweight) and Isaac Lowe v Lee McGregor (featherweight).

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BOXING

Former unified light welterweight world champion Amir Khan has advised…..

By Admin November 21, 2024

Former unified light welterweight world champion Amir Khan has advised ‘Joshua to wait for Fury fight’

Former unified light welterweight world champion Amir Khan has advised Anthony Joshua to hold off on other fights and wait for a mega-bout with Tyson Fury before retiring from boxing, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The British-Pakistani fighter believes Joshua, who has amassed over $200m in career earnings, should conclude his illustrious career with the long-awaited all-British showdown against the Gypsy King.

“He should wait for the big fight against Tyson Fury,” Khan told New Zealand Daily. “They’re both such big names and I think he should call it a day after that.

“Anthony joshua has done phenomenal in boxing and has made a lot of money, won a lot of titles, fought around the world, and is a big name but for him, why not finish on a big high by taking the Fury fight and then call it a day?”

The Olympic gold medallist is currently nursing injuries following his fifth-round knockout loss to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September, with his promoter Eddie Hearn confirming he won’t return to action until at least May 2024.

“It’s The Only Big Name” Tyson Fury Didn’t Hesitate To Tell Daniel Dubois Who….

By Admin November 12, 2024

“It’s The Only Big Name” Tyson Fury Didn’t Hesitate To Tell Daniel Dubois Who To Fight Next:

Tyson Fury has some advice for Daniel Dubois on where to head next in his career.

Right now Dubois is on top of the world. He is the current IBF belt holder having defended the strap against former two-time champion Anthony Joshua back in September

That career-best performance saw him knock down the Olympic gold medalist twice on his way to a fifth-round stoppage that left Joshua face-down on the canvas.

In the last year he has also beaten Jarrell Miller and Fillip Hrgovic in impressive fashion and now has a new found confidence to go with his natural size advantages and renowned punching power

Speaking to Pound 4 Pound ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December, Fury revealed his strategy when planning his fights

“Here’s the thing. Me and Usyk do this fight in December, Dubois has to fight soon anyway. He has to stay active. He’s only going to get a certain amount of money for low-level opposition.

“I don’t know about anyone else but I only want to fight for the highest amounts of money every time. It doesn’t matter who it is. I want the biggest amount for what I’m doing.

“I don’t want to fight someone easy for a low amount, I want to fight someone tough for a large amount ’cause the risk outweighs the easy fight.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn : Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury ‘fighting’ to….

By Admin November 12, 2024

Promoter Eddie Hearn : Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury ‘fighting’ to fight Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua has not announced his next opponent, but the two most likely candidates are Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury, at least that is the dream of promoter Eddie Hearn, who chatted about Joshua’s return to the ring.

Hearn spoke to Ariel Helwani and said that Joshua, who is recovering from the injuries suffered in his big fight in September at Wembley against Dubois, would not be ready to fight when Dubois makes his first title defense on February 22.

“He going to fight Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury,” Hearn told Helwani. “They’re the only two fights I see. He wanted to go on February 22 and fight Daniel Dubois and he just wouldn’t have been 100 percent. He’s still got a couple of minor niggles from that fight. He still can’t start camp and he needs to do that now, if he’s going to fight on February 22.”

Possible opponents for Anthony Joshua’s return

“You’ll see him (Joshua) around May or June, and I think he’s desperate to do the rematch with Daniel Dubois, but obviously, win or lose Tyson Fury on December 21, it will be a fight that will be very difficult to walk away from,” Hearn admitted. “Those two have to face each other before it’s all over. And that could be next.“Win or lose. If he (Fury) wins, it would be absolutely fantastic. He could defend his unified world championship against Anthony Joshua. If he loses, it’s the last dance for both of them. Either way, it’s compelling. I want Fury to win. I want Fury to be heavyweight champion of the world because that’s what AJ wants, to try and become three-time heavyweight champion of the world. That’s why he wants to do the rematch with Dubois, because there’s a world title opportunity there. Yes, Fury can win and we can do the fight with AJ, definitely that would be my preferred route, but we’ll see what happens on December 21.”

Eddie Hearn could leave ATT Stadium before Paul vs Tyson fight

Matchroom director Eddie Hearn will be at the AT&T in Dallas on Friday for the big event between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. But he won’t necessarily stick around for the main event, as he admitted that he plans to leave early.

Not Oleksandr Usyk or him : Tyson Fury names ‘most talented heavyweight in….

By Admin November 11, 2024

Not Oleksandr Usyk or him : Tyson Fury names ‘most talented heavyweight in the world by far’ – and it’s not Oleksandr Usyk or him

Tyson Fury believes Jared Anderson is still the most talented heavyweight in the world despite falling to defeat in his last outing.

‘The Gypsy King’ previously branded Anderson the ‘heir to his throne’ after sharing some rounds with him in the gym

But Anderson looked a long way off the finished article as he was battered from pillar to post by Martin Bakole in August en route to a crushing fifth-round knockout loss.

The devastating defeat has seen his stock fall considerably, however, Fury still has faith in the young American.

“I would also like to see Jared Anderson back in the mix,” Fury told the Pound for Pound Podcast.

“The young big baby. Now, for me, he’s the most talented heavyweight in the world by far.

“But coming off his last fight, he had a knockout loss, so talent sometimes doesn’t cut it if you are rushed into fights you are not ready for.

“He fought this guy called Martin Bakole, who is an absolute seasoned man, 30 years old, in the prime of his life, as strong as a rhinoceros.

“And he goes in there with a 24-year-old kid, who has had 17 tomato cans and has come through them with flying colours.

“But he wasn’t ready for that fight, maybe five or six more fights, a year or so away from that.

“It’s put him back a long way now and that does a lot for a fighter’s confidence but I’d like to see him back in the ring as well.”

Fury is set to run it back with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 after suffering the first setback of his professional career in May at the hands of the Ukrainian.

Both men will only be fighting for three of the major sanctioning body belts after Usyk was stripped of the IBF strap due to his contractual obligation to give Fury a second fight.

This meant he wasn’t able to box IBF mandatory Daniel Dubois, who was subsequently upgraded from interim to full world champion as a result.

While Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas insists a fight with Dubois for the final piece of the undisputed puzzle is the only challenge left for his client if he beats Fury again, the Mancunian is angling for a trilogy.

“When I win this fight with Usyk, then there has to be a third fight,” he added.

Tyson Fury Makes Huge U-Turn On Result Of First Oleksandr Usyk Fight

By Admin October 24, 2024

Tyson Fury Makes Huge U-Turn On Result Of First Oleksandr Usyk Fight

Tyson Fury has seemingly changed his mind when it comes to his first encounter with Oleksandr Usyk.

Tyson Fury will do battle with his heavyweight rival Usyk again in a highly-anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 21 December

‘The Gypsy King’ came up short in their first meeting, suffering a razor-thin split decision loss, as Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years.

In the immediate aftermath, Fury disagreed with the verdict, claiming that he only gave Usyk four rounds of the fight.

“I’ve watched the fight back lots of times and still got the same answer, I thought I won the fight, I thought I did enough. One of the judges had me winning by a round, one had him winning by a round and that was the final decision, so it was what it was. There is no good in crying over spilt milk, it’s done now. I believe everything happens for a reason.

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his world heavyweight championship belts against…

By Admin October 22, 2024

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his world heavyweight championship belts against Tyson Fury on 21 December after winning their first fight via split decision earlier this year.

Anthony Crolla has suggested that Tyson Fury’s corner needs to be ‘addressed’ ahead of his highly anticipated heavyweight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk later this year.

In May, the Ukrainian fighter made history by becoming the first fighter to defeat ‘The Gypsy King’ in a professional fight after the 37-year-old secured a split-decision victory in Riyadh. They will now face off again on 21 December.

Following their initial meeting, Fury’s corner, which includes his father, John, faced backlash after video footage revealed them advising Fury that he was leading and didn’t need to push for a stoppage. Ultimately, only one judge concurred, with the other two favouring Usyk.

Since then, there have been numerous calls for Tyson to replace his father ahead of the rematch. Peter Fury, who coached his nephew to his first world title win against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, acknowledged that too many voices were in the corner after the fight.

In a conversation with Freebets.com, Crolla reflected on the first fight back in May and maintained that Fury is ‘very confident’ about the rematch. “He’s looking really well, he’s speaking really well, seems on it, very confident,” he stated.

“You never know with Tyson. He comes out with some mad stuff, but it genuinely looks like he is in a great place.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Another tough one, but he more or less had the fight won last time at the halfway stage.

Tyson Fury Trainer Andy Lee Has Now Revealed His Honest….

By Admin October 14, 2024

Tyson Fury Trainer Andy Lee Has Now Revealed His Honest Usyk Scorecard After Rewatching Fight

Tyson Fury suffered his first career defeat back in May when he was outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk.

The two battled it out for the undisputed heavyweight crown and it was the Ukrainian who left the ring with the belts via a split decision on the scorecards.

Tyson Fury believes he won the fight and should have had his hand raised, claiming he only gave Usyk three rounds, one of which was a 10-8.

Andy Lee, who is a part of Fury’s training team and was in the corner that night has told IFLTV that the fight was close having rewatched it for the first time

And when told by Gareth A Davies for talkSPORT boxing that he had scored it 115-113 to Usyk, Lee agreed with that assessment, but said he thought it could have been a draw.

“[I saw it] somewhere along those lines, similar, Tyson cruising up to round nine, then he takes that punch, shows unbelievable courage and bravery to get through it and then sees out the next few rounds then almost wins the last round or two, so it was close.

I thought it could have been a draw but no arguments with Usyk getting the decision.”

Lee went on reveal the impact on Fury’s conditioning having not sparred during camp due to fears that the cut that delayed the original fight date would reopen.

‘No, No, No!” Tyson Fury Has Now Completely Ruled Out….

By Admin October 14, 2024

‘No, No, No!” Tyson Fury Has Now Completely Ruled Out Ever Facing One Heavyweight

Tyson Fury has admitted there is one man he will never face in the heavyweight ring

There have been heavyweights before who have refused to face one another, most recently the Klitschko brothers Vitali and Wladimir.

Both were world champions who ruled over the division but they always said that out of their respect for their mother, they would not do battle in the squared circle.

Former world champion Fury, who is currently in camp for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in December, has also said in the past that he would never face his gym mate Joseph Parker because they are too close outside of the ring.

Now, speaking to TNT Sports, he has ruled out ever competing with one other fellow banner division talent, and that is young Moses Itauma.

“No, definitely not! Do you think I’m stupid? No, no no…”

Fury used southpaw Itauma for sparring for his first fight with Usyk back in May and at the time he lavished him with praise, even going so far as to say on an Instagram post at the time that he ‘is the future of the heavyweight division.’

Usyk Rates The Power Of Anthony Joshua And Tyson Fury After Beating Both: “I Will Not Hide It”…

By Admin August 24, 2024

Oleksandr Usyk has beaten five Brits in the last six years, the most notable being Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

JUST IN: How much Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will earn from heavyweight fight

After knocking out Tony Bellew in his last cruiserweight fight, the Ukrainian moved up to heavyweight in the hope of becoming undisputed in a second division.

He beat Derek Chisora before taking the unified titles from Joshua via unanimous decision and keeping hold of them in the rematch with a split decision.

A stoppage of Daniel Dubois served as his second defence before he scored another split decision win against Fury in their long-awaited undisputed clash.

Speaking at a press conference in his home country following the Joshua bout, Usyk said that one of Joshua’s punches ‘sent him to Elon Musk’ for a while before his fighting focus was re-established.

“There were quite tangible blows. You can see it on my face too. There was a cut when we hit our heads. Then a light blow from his jab broke an eyebrow, which was flooding my right eye with blood.

SEE MORE: Otto Wallin replaces Anthony Joshua in WBC rankings, Tyson Fury is new mandatory

“I will not hide that there were very sensitive blows to the chin, to the stomach, which sent me to Elon Musk for a while, but I quickly returned. In battle, adrenaline and emotions are so overwhelming that you feel it after the battle – pain, dizziness and everything else. In the ring, you are very focused on your actions.”

Joshua would typically be recognised as the bigger puncher when discussed with Fury, but speaking to the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast Usyk held ‘The Gypsy King’s power in high regard, too – particularly one uppercut.

” I got uppercut you know, it’s like very pain. Hard pain. I feel maybe 10 seconds I say ‘hey, God, thank you, help me.’ I say to myself ‘hey Alex, move, move. If you stop, he’ll kill you.’”

His manager Egis Klimas then added what Usyk said to him about the uppercut after the fight.

“It was such a big pain I can explain only one thing, it felt like my tooth came out.”

What the Ukrainian felt was an old dental implant being impacted rather than the broken jaw Fury had claimed to have inflicted. After taking the best shots from Joshua, Dubois and Fury, Usyk still maintains that it was Chisora who hit him hardest.

He returns to the ring on December 21 to rematch Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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