Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury press conference: Live news and updates as undisputed showdown is set to be officially confirmed for 2024 in Saudi Arabia

Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest news and updates from the press conference that is set to confirm the heavyweight showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

We're moments away!

Don’t go anywhere – after a bit of a delay, we’ll be underway in central London in a few minutes.

Fearon: 'It had to take Saudi Arabia to make this happen – we're talking about that oil money'

Spencer Fearon is next on the mic for Top Rank, and he’s extolling the virtues of co-host Wardley, who featured on the under-card of ‘Battle of the Baddest’.

‘Bro, you are a natural athlete. and you can hear by his diction, he’s an educated person. and he throws thoughtful punches,’ the promoter says.

‘For a big man, you’ve got hands on you.’

Wardley accepts the compliments humbly.

Asked about Fury-Usyk, he praises Alalshikh for ‘knowing boxing.

‘Props on another level. Also it’s giving eyeballs to Saudi Arabia, which I think is good.

‘When you go there, it dismisses the stereotype.’

Here comes Tyson!

Meanwhile, fighting talk from Krassyuk in Usyk's camp

Frank Warren's back in the building

No rest for the promoter, who’s back with a mic in his hand after featuring at Wembley last night.

‘People don’t understand. He won on his rematch last August, so it’s less than a year/18 months the fight goes on, and had Tyson been able to fight on 23rd, it’d been unified. The quickest a unification fight has ever happened.

‘Tyson fought Klitschko, he’s fought Wilder, he’s fought everyone.

Warren blames the delay on money, rather than intention, but ‘under the patronship of His Excellency (Turki Alalshikh), (everything has come to fruition)’.

‘Tyson Fury is making this happen,’ his promoter adds.

Wardley: Fury and Uysk will keep their cards close to their chest

Acknowleding that both the fighters have an extensive ‘box of tricks’, Wardley assess how Fury and Usyk might start against one another in February.

‘They’re not going to want to rush in, they’re going to want to have a look.

‘Both of their last performances left some question marks, they’re going to wait and see – what Fury, what Usyk is in front of me?’

Fury reacts to confirmation of his fight with Usyk with Mail Sport

The stage is set…

A sneak-peek as we edge closer to the fighters’ arrival.

Wardley: 'Boxing always gives you a cold reminder you're still human'

Fabio Wardley is back on the mic ahead of tonight’s press conference, and sheds some light on the duo and their potential comments tonight.

‘They’re both very much characters in the own right and they’ve both got a bit to say about the other ones.

‘This time around, there’s been a bit more comments back and fourth, and they’ve both got a few holes to pick at each other (given their recent fights).’

Less than 15 minutes to go…

Both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are in the building, ready to speak to the press.

It should be a spicy one, if yesterday’s affair was anything to go by.

Breaking: CONFIRMED – Fury and Usyk will fight on February 17 in Saudi Arabia

The event dubbed ‘Ring of Fire’, will take place on the new date in February 2024.

Tyson Fury is a 'random-thought generator', claims Oleksandr Usyk's promoter Alex Krassyuk

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk has hit out at Tyson Fury after their undisputed world heavyweight title fight was delayed.

Usyk and Fury had agreed terms to fight on December 23 in Riyadh, with the Gypsy King claiming he would sue the Ukrainian if their bout was held up further.

However, after his close contest with Francis Ngannou, which Fury won via split decision, his promoter Frank Warren confirmed the clash with Usyk would instead take place early next year.

READ MORE BELOW.

Have you listened to The Hook?

Make sure to make Mail Sport’s weekly podcast The Hook your No 1 source for all the latest news on the biggest fights and exclusive interviews with boxing’s luminaries.

You can listen to this week’s episode by clicking HERE.

EXCLUSIVE: Deontay Wilder reveals Anthony Joshua turned down £40MILLION to fight him… but points the finger at former two-time world champion's Matchroom promoters

Deontay Wilder has accused Anthony Joshua of turning down a $50million (£40m) offer to fight him.

Former heavyweight champion Wilder is due to fight on the same December 23 card in Saudi Arabia as Joshua but not against one another as had been hoped. Briton Joshua will fight Otto Wallin and Wilder will take on Joseph Parker.

Asked by Mail Sport why he is not fighting Joshua next, Wilder said: ‘He asked for $50million (£40m) and we provided that for him and he did not take it.

READ MORE BELOW.

Tyson Fury claims his fight against Francis Ngannou 'went really well' despite his narrow victory

Tyson Fury has insisted his fight against Francis Ngannou was a success despite many slamming the Gypsy King’s supposed underwhelming performance.

Ngannou's fight with Fury has been the talk of the boxing world after the former MMA star took the Gypsy King all the way in Riyadh at the end of last month.

It was the first time Ngannou had stepped into the boxing ring yet he showed no signs of being a novice, before Fury was handed a split decision win by 94-95, 95-94, 96-93.

READ MORE BELOW.

Francis Ngannou is given a top TEN heavyweight ranking by the WBC after his first pro boxing fight following impressive performance against Tyson Fury… despite split decision loss

Francis Ngannou has been ranked in the top ten of the WBC’s heavyweight rankings after just his first fight in professional boxing.

The Cameroonian put in an incredible performance to shock Tyson Fury in their ‘Battle of the Baddest’ clash in Saudi Arabia last month – knocking the WBC champion to the canvas in the third round – but ultimately lost on a split decision.

However, many punters and boxing experts believe he did enough to beat the Gypsy King across the 10 round contest and the Cameroonian still emerged with massive credit after his surprising performance on his first foray into the sport.

READ MORE BELOW.

Tyson talks to The Hook!

Tyson Fury dubs Oleksandr Usyk an 'ugly little SAUSAGE man' as the Gypsy King hurls insults at his rival ahead of press conference confirming their long-awaited clash

Tyson Fury dubbed Oleksandr Usyk an ‘ugly little sausage man’ as he hurled insults at his Ukrainian opponent ahead of their press conference confirming their long-awaited clash.

The Gypsy King was due to tussle with Uysk on December 23 after nearly a year’s worth of negotiations between the two camps.

But plans were hurriedly rescheduled after Fury was put to the test against Francis Ngannou in October’s ‘Battle of the Baddest’ in Riyadh.

READ MORE BELOW.

In case you missed it… there's a 'Day of Reckoning' to look forward to

In lieu of Fury and Usyk’s clash, Saudi has pulled out the stops to plug a gap in their calendar on December 23. Last night saw the launch of the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card, a line-up overflowing with superstars… but those hopeful for a meeting between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua will have to wait a little longer.

Good afternoon!

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of a press conference that feels like year’s in the making – and will see Tyson Fury finally take to the stage with Oleksandr Usyk.

Kick-off is 6pm in London, but stick with us as we provide all the details and build-up ahead of time.

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