Why Fury vs Usyk could be the biggest fight in boxing history?

The long-awaited boxing bout between giants Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is pencilled in for 2024. The pair will finally go head-to-head in what is undoubtedly the biggest heavyweight clash of all time. Four belts will be on the line in the fight, with Usyk risking his WBA, WBO and IBF titles, and Fury throwing his WBC title into the ring. This means that the winner of the hugely anticipated occasion will emerge as the first-ever undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.

Fury vs Usyk is a meeting of two invincible fighters

Fury vs Usyk is in some ways a one-of-a-kind match-up in professional boxing history. Both have strong claims to being the greatest heavyweight ever, as they've never been beaten in a fight despite facing remarkable fighters like Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko.

The Gypsy King and the Ukrainian are proud fighters, yet one will leave the fight as the ultimate winner and the other will stand to lose everything.

Sportsbooks all over the world are already prepared with betting markets for the bout. As it stands, Fury is a slight favourite across regions like the UK, US, Europe and even New Zealand, with many sportsbooks offering free bet bonuses when betting on the upcoming boxing fights in the new year and beyond. For example, if you sign up with bet365 in NZ, Fury is offered at 4/6 compared to Usyk's odds of 6/5 to win as a marginal underdog.

Deontay Wilder: Fury vs Usyk is a 50-50 Fight, Speed Could Be a Major Factor https://t.co/NtZNbMnSTS pic.twitter.com/MW0pIO8e8k

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) December 5, 2023

History will certainly be made regardless of the outcome of the fight in February. Barring the unlikely circumstance of a draw, an invincible record will be brought to a stop for one individual, and the other will become the first ever undisputed heavyweight champion in the modern era.

When Fury and Usyk enter the ring in 2024, their legacies will be extended and altered forever as one will likely achieve what no one has managed before. But compared to the biggest fights of the past, could their meeting represent the most significant ever?

How do the biggest historical fights compare?

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao was a fight between two immense fighters, which garnered huge anticipation as well as a massive pay-per-view figure of £333 million.

While the fight offered a long-awaited match-up similar to Fury vs Usyk, it came at a period when the pair were past their best - Pacquiao especially - and this resulted in a dull fight in which Mayweather won comfortably on points.

Mayweather's victory was not at all surprising considering he was an invincible fighter that was facing Pacquiao who had already suffered six losses and had well passed the prime days of his career.

One of boxing’s biggest ‘What ifs?’

@trboxing pic.twitter.com/oOWFn8tXtk

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) October 5, 2022

This fight was certainly one of the biggest ever in terms of revenue and hype - simply as both fighters were incredibly popular - however, it didn't offer the unpredictable and legacy-defining contest that Fury vs Usyk is sure to.

Another historical fight that was seen to have enormous stature at the time was Rocky Marciano vs Joe Walcott back in 1952. The former's triumph allowed him to cement a legacy as one of the greatest boxers ever, which has remained to this day.

In both of these landmark fights only one fighter was a dominant, seemingly invincible boxer - Mayweather Jr. and Marciano. Meanwhile, with the Fury and Usyk bout, avid boxing fans will be treated to a spectacle where two seemingly untouchable heavyweights face each other in a winner-takes-all affair.

Boxing has never seen a fight with this level of stakes that could truly go either way. Fury and Usyk both possess the talent and dedication of generational boxing talents, yet the sport has been fortunate enough to be graced with both simultaneously.

The sport's biggest fights typically offer the narrative of a dominant defending champion against a significant underdog challenger - but Fury vs Usyk in 2024 will feature two current champions going head-to-head to secure the greatest achievement in boxing history.

This will be the biggest fight ever, the two greatest heavyweights of all time will meet while still in their primes, and a prize will be available that has never been on display before.