The pomp and pageantry that accompanied the fighters' Grand Arrivals in Riyadh on Tuesday was befitting of a showdown between arguably the two best heavyweights in a generation.
On Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC, WBO and WBA world titles against the man he beat by split decision in May to unify boxing's blue riband division.
The unbeaten Ukrainian seems focused on the task at hand. His opponent, Tyson Fury, meanwhile, seems to be looking well beyond Saturday's rematch at the Kingdom Arena.
Fury said he is prioritising a third fight with Usyk over facing Anthony Joshua in a lucrative all-British clash.
That seemed to somewhat contradict comments Fury made last week that a blockbuster clash with Joshua, who suffered a crushing defeat to Daniel Dubois in October, was on his radar, saying that money and not legacy was his driving force.
Of course both can be true, but it does beg the question as to whether Fury is guilty of looking beyond Saturday's encounter against the only fighter he has lost to in his 36-fight career and who is widely regarded as one of the most technical in the game.
“When I win on Saturday night, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Al Arabiya.
“Joshua’s in tatters at the moment. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But the fight with Usyk – one on Saturday and the one afterwards – would be fantastic for me.”
That's not to say Fury is under prepared. Revenge may be new to the 36 year old but will no doubt be a huge motivator as he seeks to join an elite band of heavyweights to win a version of the world title three times.
Neither should anyone judge Fury – or any fighter for that matter – for looking to earn as much money as possible from one of the most dangerous sports there is. Fighters know the risk every time they take up the cudgels, and it's important that when they retire they and their families can enjoy the fruits of their hard-earned labour.
For all Fury's showboating and bombast, one of his most overlooked traits is his bravery. In his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Fury bested the most devastating knockout artist in heavyweight history twice after their first fight ended in a draw.
During that epic first battle, Fury summoned the kind of courage only found in comic books to climb off the canvas after being sparked out in Round 12. Not only did he beat the referee's count, he went on to win the rest of the round convincingly.
In total, Wilder knocked Fury down four times across their three fights. Though Fury prevailed, those close to him say that it came at a huge physical cost, and it is hard to argue that Fury has been the same fighter since.
If Fury's focus is on the next bumper pay cheque instead of outwitting Usyk, the Briton is likely to suffer another defeat that in turn harms his future chances of more lucrative paydays.
Usyk is favourite to repeat his success in May when he became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
A classic encounter saw Fury take control of the middle rounds and he even appeared close to forcing a stoppage in the sixth before Usyk slowly gained the upper hand until letting rip in a dominant ninth.
“He won by one point in a close fight. Good luck to the guy. And we’re going to run it back on Saturday and it’s going to be victory for me,” Fury said.
Clean shaven for his more recent contests, Fury has grown a bushy beard which he is keen to keep even though rules state that a fighter’s jawline must be visible.
“My beard is giving me strength like Samson,” said Fury, in reference to the biblical figure whose strength came from a vow not to cut his hair or shave.
“I’m going to knock him out. It’s the biggest event of my life. From one biggest event to the next biggest event. Looking forward to putting on a show, as always.”
Usyk has become an all-time great having added the undisputed heavyweight crown to the same achievement at cruiserweight, as well as winning Olympic gold at London 2012.
He has been unfazed by Fury’s attempts to unsettle him with mind games and he refused to be provoked when the Briton vowed to knock him out in the first round on Saturday.
“It’s only talk. We’ll see. It’s God’s will. I’m ready, I’m ready to fight. It will be a great fight. I feel I will win,” Usyk said.
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Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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