Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk press conference RECAP: Gypsy King and undisputed world champion pulled apart after incredible 10-MINUTE stare off ahead of Saturday’s rematch

Anyway, we’re wrapping up our coverage now. Thanks for sticking with us.

It was all a bit strange this evening, but there was certainly no shortage of drama.

These two men are itching to get in the ring. Let’s see who comes out on top.

Stay tuned to our website for more reaction. Until then, I’ll catch you later.

I wonder what Paris Fury made of it all?

Tyson Fury was desperate to get the final word in.

He yelled some final insults toward his opponent, which I couldn’t quite make out, as he was pulled away before eventually disappearing off the stage.

There was a horde of photographers up there, so we captured every angle.

I have to say, that’s a pretty sharp suit, Mr Fury.

It’s strange because the actual press conference was pretty mild-mannered.

Tyson Fury didn’t want to do much talking and Oleksandr Usyk was as blunt as ever. There were some insults but really, it was a dull occasion.

What did you make of the face-off? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Could you stare down someone for over 10 minutes?

If you’re so inclined, you can watch every second of that agonising showdown via the video below. I’m not sure why you would, but the option’s there.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman even stepped in around the seven-minute mark to separate the two fighters but had no luck.

They started to trade words nine minutes in and shortly after, several bodies stepped in to try and take Tyson Fury away. Imagine trying to shift him.

It never felt like it would boil over into a scrap, but there was real tension in the air.

At the end, Usyk stood near the stairs with his arms held aloft.

I think everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief once the two men separated.

It’s not over yet, though. They’ll meet again for one final time after tomorrow’s weigh-in. Surely we won’t see a repeat of that stare-down?

It could run into the weekend if they’re not careful…

Hello, all. Thanks, Harry.

I’m not quite sure how to describe that. Dramatic? Odd?

The official time for the face-off has been revealed… 11 minutes and 20 seconds.

Both fighters were locked in.

My word, that was very tense.

You could have cut the tension like a knife through butter, both fighters look raring to get at each other.

There is still a lot to get through and I am going to leave you in the capable hands of my colleague Dan Davis.

That was pretty nuts, I have never seen a face-off last that long in my career, it really was something.

They are eventually pulled apart after 12 minutes and it takes a huge group of people to split them up.

If nobody else was there, they could have continued that for a very long time.

Now it’s getting really interesting.

Into our ninth minute of this face-off, Tyson Fury has started to get very animated and the war of words has begun.

Oleksandr Usyk is just shaking his head and not saying a single word.

This is extremely intense, Fury is well up for this.

This press conference has really got into a new gear. There is a little party going on over in the corner while the stare-down continues.

People are trying to split Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk up, but it’s not working whatsoever.

We are now nearly eight minutes into this now…

This is getting a little bit silly now.

It’s been five minutes and both Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury have still not broken eye contact.

I’ve got to say, it’s been a very tame afternoon.

It’s time for the face-off but both fighters don’t even look like they want to be there in the slightest.

They are staring each other down quite intensely and neither of them wants to break eye contact, they have been looking at each other for a good three minutes.

I mean it’s actually pretty impressive how they can stare at each other for so long, it’s kind of mental.

Somebody is going to have to break them up.

Alex Krassyuk, Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter:

Gratitude goes to Gypsy King. We know he is not very good at making the rematches, but we must say that courage and bravery lives in his heart. Thanks for being here. Good luck to both of them and let the bets man win… again.

Spencer Brown, Tyson Fury’s manager:

He has lived like a monk, as you can see he is very focused. On Saturday night, he will get it back [the belt].

Don’t underestimate the Gypsy man from Lancaster who has had fighting in his blood. He is from a great bloodline of fighting men, they are warriors. Don’t underestimate this man.

Oleksandr Usyk has had to hear a lot of people backing Tyson Fury, but he is now being praised by promoter Bob Arum.

He smiles… but it soon fades away.

Arum then backs Fury, and the Ukrainian fighter has to hear it all again.

He looks a little bit fed up.

While Eddie Hearn was just talking, Turki Alalshikh intercepted him to shout out that he is backing Tyson Fury.

Interesting that he isn’t holding his cards close to his chest.

It seems there are a lot of people backing Fury in this fight, even if he is being hailed as the underdog.

Do you agree with Alalshikh?

Eddie Hearn, making his prediction:

As I said to my friend earlier, I have a lot of Oleksandr Usyk, but of course, I am backing Tyson Fury, he is the Brit. Oleksandr Usyk is an incredible fighter and it will take some extraordinary to beat him, but Tyson Fury is capable of extraordinary things.

I can’t believe I am saying it, but may Tyson Fury be victorious on Saturday night for Great Britain.

Oleksandr Usyk, speaking in Ukrainian:

Now we have just a performance with lights and cameras. Everything will take place on Saturday.

Tyson Fury is looking very scary…

He is a very different man this time around, there are no niceties what’s so ever.

He looks like he wants to be anywhere but at this press conference, he just wants to fight.

It really is interesting watching his change in demeanour… but will it actually make any difference in the ring.

Oleksandr Usyk doesn’t exactly look phased as he is lambasted by Fury.

Frank Warren, speaking at the press conference:

The first fight was magnificent, it has everything. It was a very close fight, this time around I know these guys have shared the ring, and they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

It will be about who can exploit the weaknesses. I believe Tyson Fury can get through this and I don’t believe it will go the distance. Do not blink after the first bell.

Tyson Fury, speaking at the press conference:

I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain, I am going to put this f***** in the hurt locker for sure. I have got nothing to say other than there will a lot of hurt and pain. Last time out I laughed and I joked.

Talking has been done. The first fight I joked but this Saturday I’m going to do a whole lot of damage.

Erm… I was not expecting this.

Oleksandr is not entering the stage in a low-key way like Tyson Fury, he has a whole show going on.

A singer comes down the steps belting out a very snazzy tune before the ever-stylish Usyk follows him.

That is what you call a spectacle.

The famous Michael Buffer has taken the microphone and is now thanking a bunch of people.

After all the suspense, he announces both Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury to the stage. He does take his time, though.

Fury comes to the stage first in a really snazzy suit, but he does not have the bubbly mood to match it.

He is looking very focused.

Tyson Fury speaking to GB News:

I need to be more focused this time and not do as much showboating, he said via GB News. ‘That’s how easy it was for me and you can get complacent. I don’t believe the showboating cost me the fight but I need to be more focused this time and not do as much.

I didn’t feel as if I could have knocked him out at any point. I hurt him a few times to the body and with head shots but I didn’t feel I was going to take him out. It was my best performance in the last five years, probably more.

Yep, we are still waiting.

It doesn’t seem like we are any closer to Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury talking to the stage, but I am hoping to be proved wrong.

It seems I really low-balled my prediction of 10 minutes, we could be hear a while.

But don’t worry, I will keep you updated as things unfold.

Oleksandr Usyk is a bit like Roz out of Monsters Inc… he is always watching.

The heavyweight champ would simply not stop looking at Tyson Fury the other day when he walked down ‘The Runway’.

I must say, I certainly wouldn’t want him staring at me like that, but Fury is not scared in the slightest.

It’s been a busy day for the fighters, that’s for sure.

This morning, we got to see both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk complete their open workouts, and my word were their vibes different.

Fury was looking mean, there was none of his usual joking around in the ring.

When asked about what will happen tomorrow night after his workout, Fury said three words: ‘Pain. Damage. Serious hurt.’

Meanwhile, Usyk seemed in a very happy mood as he danced around the ring, bringing the vibes.

I mean, it’s been fascinating to see how differently these two are preparing for this fight. It’s the polar opposite to the first time around.

Will it impact the result differently come Saturday night?

It’s Oleksandr Usyk fashion watch time.

The Ukrainian fighter normally provides some sort of swag when he turns up to these press conferences.

I mean, he is certainly a stylish dude.

The other night he turned up in this lovely little purple number and I am once again expecting big things tonight.

All I know is that I could not pull that outfit off.

Some of you may be saying I am dramatic but we are already three minutes past the start time and there is no sign of either fighter yet.

The question is, how long will we have to wait?

My prediction is around another 10 minutes, but I am hoping to be proved wrong.

In the meantime, I am listening to some groovy music as I prepare. Pure vibes.

The main fight undercard:

• Mohammad Alakel vs Joshua Ocampo (super-featherweight)
• Andrii Novytskyi vs Edgar Ramirez (heavyweight)
• Daniel Lapin vs Dylan Colin (light-heavyweight)
• Rhys Edwards vs Peter McGrail (super-bantamweight)
• Isaac Lowe vs Lee McGregor (featherweight)
• Johnny Fisher vs Dave Allen (heavyweight)
• Moses Itauma vs Demsey McKean (heavyweight)
• Serhii Bohachuk vs Ishmael Davis (super-welterweight)
• Oleksandr Usyk (C) vs Tyson Fury 2 (WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles)

We are nearly there people!

This is your five-minute warning for the press conference. With this sport, though, you never know I these things will start on time.

I really hope it does today.

Frank Warren, boxing promoter, speaking exclusively to Mail Sport:

His mind just needs to be Usyk. [Fury will be thinking] This is what I’ve got to do. I don’t want to be distracted. I don’t want to know if there’s a problem at home. I don’t know if I’ve got a business problem. All I want to do is focus on this. This is what I want. I need to win this fight.

It’s not about the belts, it’s about beating the guy who got the decision in the last fight in a very, very close fight, a split decision. He needs and feels he’s got to do this to win that.

I’ve got to sacrifice, I’ve got to be in that mood, I’ve got to be in that mindset, I’ve got to focus on this is what it is. And I’m not going to be deviated, no one’s going to distract me. Blinkers on, that’s it. And that’s where he’s at

I doubt you all need a reminder of how the first fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk went, but I am going to remind you anyway.

It’s fair to say, it was one of the most memorable bouts in boxing history.

Fury started the fight in command and it looked like he was having the time of his life, so much so that he started showboating.

But soon enough, he would learn why Usyk had never been beaten professionally.

The Ukrainian clocked Fury with a perfect left hand which nearly sent the big guy down to the canvas.

Somehow, the fight was not stopped. To this day I don’t know why.

But in the end, it didn’t matter, as Usyk would hand Fury the first loss of his career by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years.

It was a truly spectacular night, and I’m hoping Saturday will be the same.

Now this is the story of the day so far.

During this fight week, we have seen a very different side to Tyson Fury, whose usual bubbly and humourous demeanour has been toned down majorly.

It’s a stark comparison to the lead-up to his first fight with Oleksandr Usyk, which was chaotic, to say the least.

And now we may know the reason why…

Fury has banned his father John from being in the corner when fight night swings around this Saturday.

The carnage may be entertaining for viewers, but Fury seems to want to put all his focus on the fight.

Right then, how are we all feeling?

I’m expecting you all to say excited because that’s exactly how I am feeling. We have a belting few days ahead of us.

This afternoon is just the tip of a very big iceberg, it’s about to get more thrilling with each passing day.

So, here is what is in store:

• Thursday – Final pre-fight press conference
• Friday – Weigh-ins
• Saturday – Fight night

This is not just any old press conference…

We are now just three days away from Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury taking to the ring for their second monumental fight this year.

Seven months on from Usyk’s famous victory, the pair are at it again.

These two normally provide lots of entertainment when they are together on stage, so I am expecting another fun press conference today.

It’s the final time they will be able to exchange words publicly before the fight, so let’s hope they deliver.

So, let’s start with chapter one of three this fight week.