Tyson Fury vows to 'break' Oleksandr Usyk in heavyweight fight and 'cement legacy as the No. 1 fighter in this era'

Tyson Fury has vowed to "break" Oleksandr Usyk and cement his “legacy as the No. 1 fighter in this era”.

Fury and Usyk are set to meet for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia on February 17.

Fury is the WBC champion while Usyk holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

The winner of the fight will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

“It’s going to one of the fights for the ages,” said Fury at a press conference in London.

“I believe we are both destined to be here and to be in this big fight in Saudi Arabia, and there’s only one winner, and I am destined to become the undisputed champion.

“More than that, I am destined to cement my legacy as the No. 1 fighter in this era. To do that I have to beat this little man and that’s it, simple as.

“Easier said than done I understand, he’s a tricky man, good boxer, slick. But I have seen many people like him before and when they fight the big men they struggle.

“He’s going to struggle on February 17 and he’s going to lose, I will break him for sure.”

Fury’s last fight was a split-decision win over former MMA fighter Francis Ngannou.

He was in a lively mood at the press conference as he taunted Usyk and told him “if you beat me in your dreams you better wake up and apologise”, a line first used by Muhammad Ali.

“You know what’s coming, you’re getting smashed to pieces,” said Fury to Usyk.

“You’re fighting the best British heavyweight there’s ever been. You beat all the rest of them but you ain’t beat Tyson Fury yet.”

Usyk did not rise to Fury’s words and gave little back, simply saying: “I am very happy to be here, thank you. I speak more in the ring.”

Speaking after the press conference, Fury said he thinks he has “nothing to fear” against Usyk.

“I was born for this. I think he is scared to death, he’s rattled.

"I am going to knock him out. I can knock him out or I can out box him, either way. I will let him take the pick, I’ll ask him next time we meet. I have nothing to fear, maybe a graze on the face or a busted nose or something, but he ain’t going to do much to me.

“It’s just us two in the ring and the best man will win. I think the best man is me and he knows it’s me. If he beats me I’ll shake his hand and if I beat him I hope he shakes my hand. Fair play, it’s a fight, it’s a boxing match.”

Fury and Usyk were joined on the stage at one point by actor Sylvester Stallone.

“You know it’s go-time when you have Rocky here,” said Fury.

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