Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk shared an astonishing face-off that lasted a full 11 minutes and 20 seconds after a fiery final press conference in Riyadh.
In one of the more bizarre head-to-heads in recent memory, the two rivals eyeballed each other for longer than some heavyweight fights actually last.
The staredown began with an intense silence but soon became awkward for those around the fighters. Several attempts were made to separate them but neither was willing to break it off. Eventually, words were exchanged and escalated into a series of threats – mostly from the Fury side – and the deadlock was broken.
Speaking as he left the stage, Usyk said: “Me? [Look away?] No.” The weigh-in takes place on Friday evening and will once again involve a face-off, as is tradition.
Earlier Fury insisted the time for joking is over as he pledged to put unified heavyweight champion Usyk in the “hurt locker” when they clash for the second time on Saturday.
Fury has cut a mean and moody figure at this week’s promotional events and Thursday’s press conference continued along the same lines as the 36-year-old kept the talking to a minimum.
The flashpoint came at the end of the face-off when Fury began taunting Usyk, who hit back with his own insults and a smile, before they were eventually separated.
“I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain. I’m going to put this … in the hurt locker, for sure,” the bearded Fury said.
“I’ve got nothing to say apart there’s going to be a whole lot of hurt and pain in this fight, you watch. Watch me go to work.
“The talking has been done. The first fight I talked and joked. All of my career. This time I’m serious – I’m going to do some damage here on Saturday night.”
Fury’s approach to the rematch has been very different to the first fight when he sought to unsettle Usyk verbally and by towering over him at every available opportunity.
That tactic did not work and Usyk produced his finest career victory with a split decision win to add Fury’s WBC belt to his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
In reference to his successful game plan of stalking the ‘Gypsy King’ around the ring, the 37-year-old Usyk promised a repeat performance.
“Don’t be afraid. I will not leave you alone. See you on Saturday,” said Usyk, who was subsequently stripped of the IBF title for choosing to rematch Fury rather than face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
Fury’s brother Tommy and wife Paris watched from the crowd at Via Riyadh, but there was still no sign of dad John, whose erratic contribution to Fury's corner back in May was widely criticised.
Trainer SugarHill Steward revealed on Wednesday that Fury Sr had been stood down from corner duties for the rematch with himself, second Andy Lee and a cutman making up the revised trio.
The corner work in May was strongly criticised with each of Steward, Lee and Fury Sr giving contradictory advice in between the later rounds.
Fury spent seven weeks at a training camp in Malta and says he has not spoken to his wife for three months in order to focus fully on avenging his only loss. Promoter Frank Warren believes he will win by knockout.
“The first fight was magnificent. It was a great fight that had everything. It was a very close fight and there was a cigarette paper in the decision,” Warren said.
“These guys know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and this fight is going to be about who has the strength to exploit the weaknesses. I believe Tyson Fury will come through this and I don’t think the fight will go the distance.
“Tyson’s in great shape and in a great frame of mind. We’re going to to get an extra special event – do not blink from the first bell.”
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Racecard
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Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto
Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec
Top speed 305kph
Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km
Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)
On sale Jan/Feb 2020
The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
