Live Reporting
Bobbie Jackson and Charlotte Coates
Predictions - 'Fury is the best heavyweight on the planet'published at 23:35
23:35
Lightweight world champion Rhiannon Dixon: “I have a lot of love for Usyk because he’s a southpaw. I’m obsessed with southpaws because I am one. But, with the whole low blow controversial shot in the Daniel Dubois fight, I think Fury wins. It is the way he has handled fights in the past, and he’s just very big. Fury will win on points. I don’t think Usyk gets knocked out.”
Former world champion and boxing coach Anthony Crolla: “I’ve always said a fit and focused Tyson Fury is the best heavyweight on the planet. I still believe that. I don’t think he was fit or focused last time.
"Up against Usyk, he’s fighting a future Hall of Famer - someone with an incredible fight IQ. Size will come into it. If you had asked me before the Francis Ngannou fight, I would have said Tyson Fury very confidently. Now I don’t see it with half as much confidence.
"However, I am going to back Tyson. He looks a lot better physically. Tyson Fury wins with a late stoppage or on points. I'm probably leaning towards points.”
Middleweight fighter Hamzah Sheeraz: “Fury will take a close points decision. To beat Usyk you need to do what he does but do it better than him. The big man does that.”
Boxer and Tyson's brother Tommy Fury: “Tyson wins by a late stoppage - rounds nine to 12. Tyson will get him out of there.”
Postpublished at 23:35
23:35
Tyson Fury enters the ring and skips past Oleksandr Usyk, attempting to taunt the Ukrainian as he goes by.
It's time for the national anthems.
Postpublished at 23:34
23:34
What a walkout song!
Tyson Fury has opted for Barry White's 'You Are The First, the Last, my Everything'!
He looks incredibly cool, bouncing around at the top of the ramp.
And now the music switches to 'I Need a Hero' by Bonnie Tyler.
This man has some playlist.
Pyrotechnics are blasting and he's just having a really great time out there.
Undisputed heavyweight title fight anyone?
Postpublished at 23:31
23:31
Now it's the turn of Tyson Fury to make his walk.
Oleksandr Usyk's was no nonsense, that's what we've come to expect from him, but what will Fury offer?
Get Involvedpublished at 23:31
23:31
#bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
I'm a proud Englishman, but I'm also a boxing fan and appreciate bravery, dedication and the way people carry themselves. For that reason I'll be cheering on Usyk tonight.Standout amateur, Undisputed at Cruiserweight and if he can pull it off tonight whilst his country is fighting an invasion, what a story it will be when we look back. He's a class act to boot, in and outside the ring.If they were the same size then Fury would be written off.
Mike, Wiltshire
Postpublished at 23:31
23:31
Oleksandr Usyk has made it to the ring pretty swiftly and his team are holding all of his belts - five of them - are being held aloft.
Postpublished at 23:29
23:29
OHHHH.
Here comes Oleksandr Usyk.
What an outfit. He's in some traditional clothing with a fur hat. He looks like an ancient warrior.
I can honestly say I am a fan of this 'fit'.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 23:28
23:28
OK, I think we're all clear of JID.
He's off the stage after his trio of songs and we're now watching a promotional trailer of the two fighters.
Postpublished at 23:26
23:26
Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Kingdom Arena, RiyadhI'm no rap or popular culture expert, but who is JID? Could they have got a more well-known name? Or maybe, just get the main event started? It's almost 01:30 local time.
I suppose we've waited 25 years, what's another 10 or so minutes.
FYI - I've disliked Sam's post.
Postpublished at 23:26
23:26
Turns out we are getting a JID medley.
He's on to song number three.
Apparently we like his fit?!
Postpublished at 23:26
23:26
Sam Harris
BBC Sport in Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaHow many dislikes am I going to get if I say I’m quite enjoying this…
Postpublished at 23:23
23:23
That musical interlude Kal spoke of has just started.
If you're interested, Shazam says it is JID and he's singing 'Dance Now' on a stage which has been placed above the ring.
We're some way off this fight starting...
Predictions - 'Usyk wins on points'published at 23:19
23:19
Last undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis: “I think Tyson Fury should win it by points.”
Former world champion and Usyk opponent Tony Bellew: "Usyk wins on points. If the judges read the fight properly and judge it properly, I can see it being a unanimous decision. The only way I see it getting close is if we have incompetent judging.”
Two-time UFC champion Conor McGregor: “Usyk is a crafty, crafty boxer. If anybody can do it, maybe Usyk can do it. Tyson is also a crafty boxer, plus he has the size. Tyson is a tough man to beat in the boxing arena.”
Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield: “It can go either way. It all depends if Usyk fights the right fight.”
Get Involvedpublished at 23:16
23:16
#bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Fury to win. Usyk doesn’t possess knockout power at heavyweight. Check who he has actually knocked out in the last 6 years!
Adam Neal from Aberystwyth
History of the beef & fight styles comparedpublished at 23:16
23:16
If we have a slight delay for a "musical interlude" as Kal says.
Why not take a look at these videos!
The British crowd hype up starter mixpublished at 23:15
23:15
Sam Harris
BBC Sport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia'Sweet Caroline' followed by 'Freed from Desire' has been blasted out.
The crowd are up for it now. Let’s do this.
Postpublished at 23:15
23:15
Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Kingdom Arena, RiyadhWe might have to wait a little longer.
I'm hearing there is going to be a musical interlude with a stage covering the ring and a rapper performing.
Usyk the pickpublished at 23:11
23:11
Image source, _OH!
Tyson Fury picked up 56% of the vote on the BBC Sport website when we asked who would win tonight.
But there appears to have been a swing over the last few hours with the majority of you now leaning towards Oleksandr Usyk.
Very interesting!
Footwork of Usyk will bamboozle Furypublished at 23:11
23:11
Tony Bellew
Retired world champion and Usyk's former opponentImage source, Getty ImagesI don't think Tyson Fury can knock Oleksandr Usyk out with one punch, but he is strong enough to hurt him - just because of his sheer weight and size.
He needs to be big, awkward and use his size to his advantage. By the way, they say Fury is 6ft 9in, but I have pictures of me stood next to him. He’s about 6ft 7in, at a push.
But a man of that size who constantly goes on the back foot could a nightmare for someone like Usyk.
I chose to go on the back foot when I fought Usyk in my final fight. He thought I was going to look for the knockout, and I regret that I didn't.
I was ahead on two scorecards going into the eighth round. I should have just gone for it because I could not outbox him for 12 rounds. I was absolutely exhausted. I couldn’t breathe because I was that tired.
Fury is going to have to put his foot down, but I'm just not sure that he can avoid what Usyk will do to him when that happens.
I can see Fury getting caught consistently on the way in and the angles and the footwork of Usyk will bamboozle him at times.
Usyk’s judgement of distance is just unreal. It's like he has a laser on the end of his feet and toes, and when you step within that laser, he's gone; he's away.
I can't put into words how difficult an opponent he is. Just like Floyd Mayweather, where you know what he is going to do – slip, shoulder roll, counter-punch on the inside – you still don’t know how to stop it.
Get Involvedpublished at 23:09
23:09
#bbcboxing, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Just landed in NYC, looked up a bar called Sucker Punch 🥊 very lively already. My only prediction is it goes the distance. Love the attitude and achievements of Usyk. Fury for me swings from inspirational to intolerable and back again. I’m flying the flag tonight though, come on Tyson! Let’s just hope the outcome is clear whatever it is. Good luck gents. Have a great fight folks!
Giles in NYC
