The majority of the 2,500 British fans expected to be in attendance on Saturday landed in the Saudi capital in the morning and made their way to the weigh-in.
Heavyweight legends were also rolled in as Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko watched events unfold.
Wales’ IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina and Belfast’s Anthony Cacace successfully weighed in for their bout, along with the rest of the undercard.
Then it was time for the big men. The boisterous British fans, huddled together, jeered Usyk and erupted – chanting “there’s only one Tyson Fury” – when the Gypsy King entered.
The difference in size has been a hot topic throughout the build-up, but a bulked up Usyk – a former cruiserweight champion – came in 10lb heavier than when he beat Anthony Joshua in 2022.
At 6ft 3in, he is giving up a six-inch height advantage. Fury also has a reach of 85in, compared to Usyk’s 78in.
Fury, 35, comes in more than stone lighter than his close points win over Francis Ngannou in October.
He was criticised for his conditioning against the boxing debutant and appears to have made the necessary adjustments.
Usyk, 37, and his team had previously mocked Fury by calling him “greedy belly”. This week, their insult has changed to “skinny belly”.
But there are concerns Fury may have lost too much weight, impacting his punch resistance.
Earlier in the week, Briton Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion in the three-belt era, said Fury appears to have lost size in his legs and it could make it easier for him to be knocked down.
Source Agencies
