Usyk asks Fury to sign picture of him being punched in the face

A suited and menacing-looking Oleksandr Usyk asked Tyson Fury to autograph a photograph of him being punched successful the look successful their archetypal fight, astatine a quality league connected Wednesday.

Briton Fury, 36, mislaid his WBC crown by split-decision in May arsenic Usyk became boxing's archetypal undisputed heavyweight champion successful 25 years.

They met astatine London's lavish Guildhall to beforehand their rematch connected 21 December successful Saudi Arabia, which volition not beryllium for each 4 belts aft Usyk vacated the IBF title.

Ukraine's Usyk - sporting a reddish necktie and achromatic gloves - took retired of a briefcase a representation of the Morecambe combatant being punched.

"I look similar Shrek," Fury said to a shaven-headed Usyk, 37, arsenic helium signed it.

The champion mirrored Agent 47 successful the Hitman video gaming series, making his entranceway to Franz Schubert's Ave Maria - a opus utilized successful the game.

Fury, meanwhile, alternatively unexpectedly made his mode to the apical array to the tune of Aqua's Barbie Girl.

But showmanship aside, it was a alternatively serene quality conference.

"We did the combat successful May, a large fight, I cognize radical support going connected astir it but it's successful the past now, we've got to determination on," Fury said.

Before their archetypal meeting, Fury's caput games had small effect connected Usyk - who defended his state against the Russian invasion.

After the result, Fury insisted helium had won and successful a societal media outburst earlier this period helium said Usyk would "feel the wrath of the Gypsy King" successful their adjacent outing.

Yet Fury kept it elemental and respectful astatine Wednesday's quality conference. He remained expressionless and stared into the region erstwhile managers and promoters spoke.

"I'm looking guardant to a fantastic fight, Oleksandr won the archetypal combat just and square," helium said.

"I'll beryllium a spot much focused, nary complacency and there's thing drastic I person to change. I volition beryllium victorious."

An Olympic golden medallist and erstwhile undisputed cruiserweight champion, Usyk - unbeaten successful 22 nonrecreational fights - is 1 of the astir decorated athletes successful the past of boxing.

But helium was arsenic straightforward with his responses.

"Hi everybody, I'm blessed to beryllium here. What is my motivation? I don't person motivation, lone my regime, my concentration, this is my motivation," helium said.

The unusually sedate gathering ended with Fury tickling the champion aft the obligatory face-off.

An uneventful quality league was saved by the theatrical Usyk.

With precise small being said by those connected the stage, the media successful attendance were wondering what was successful the briefcase until Usyk revealed all.

The Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua quality league that took spot present past period was besides alternatively understated, but cipher expected Fury to curb his accustomed brashness oregon beryllium humbled by defeat.

Outside the ring, these 2 are afloat of surprises. But marque nary mistake, some men cognize the magnitude of this rematch.

From a trilogy bout to the victor facing Dubois successful an undisputed battle, a fig of permutations and outcomes for the part hinge connected the effect of this rematch.

How volition it go? Fury has a phenomenal boxing IQ and has the capabilities to marque the indispensable adjustments. The occupation helium faces is Usyk is arguably the smartest in-ring technician of his generation.