"I'll say my word in the ring"—Usyk's first words after the official announcement of the fight with Fury.

On November 16, the boxing world was set abuzz with the official announcement of the much-awaited clash between the reigning titans of the heavyweight division. Ukrainian powerhouse and holder of the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO, and The Ring titles, Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs), is poised to face the unbeatable WBC champion, Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs), in a battle for the undisputed world championship.

First Reactions from the Fighters and Organizers

Alex Krassyuk:

"I can tell you what will happen when the final gong sounds. The belts will return to Ukraine," confidently declared Krasiuk, setting a triumphant tone for the Ukrainian camp.

Oleksandr Usyk:

Usyk exuded calm confidence and said, "Very happy to be here. I will say my word in the ring. I want to tell one story about David and Goliath, similar to our story with Tyson. I'll do my job when the Lord puts it in my hands. Nothing is impossible with the Lord. The first time I did a staredown fight with Fury after the Chisora fight, he was very motivated. The last time - he was tired."

Tyson Fury:

Fury, known for his bold bravado, dismissed the challenge, "An easy fight. He's left-handed, but he's not the strongest puncher in the world. Not the strongest man in the world. I can outbox him, knock him out. Look, this is not a talking tournament. It's a boxing match. On February 17, all the talk will be over, and we'll meet in the ring. If he says he's gonna win, fine. But I know I'll win. That's it, nothing more to say. Usyk beat Dubois and Joshua. Why isn't he big enough for me? Because they're bums. He's a middleweight. I know the story that it's not the dog's size in the fight that matters. It's the size of the fight in the dog. But when you meet a big guy. When he's that big and likes to fight too, you lose. And that's it."

Egis Klimas:

Reflecting on the journey to this moment, Klimas shared, "Happy to be in London. I want to say this is the easiest fight I've done in my career. When Tyson's friend Tim called me and said: 'Egis, Tyson wants to make this fight.' I confirmed that Oleksandr wanted this fight as well. Next, I received a call from Spencer and flew to New York. The following day in New York, after an hour of socializing, we shook hands, and the fight was made. 

We are expecting fireworks in the ring from these two guys—one of the greatest fights in history. I'm proud to be involved in it. I want to thank Oleksandr. See you in stunning Saudi Arabia on February 17."

The stage is set for a monumental showdown on February 17 in Saudi Arabia, where legends will collide in a battle for the ages.