Cristiano Ronaldo gave clever answer to Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk question

Cristiano Ronaldo remained coy and diplomatic over who he wants to win between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their anticipated bout on Saturday night. In Riyadh, Fury and Usyk are set to finally meet in a bout which will determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis in 1999. 

The eyes of the sports world will be firmly on Saudi Arabia, where Fury and Usyk will fight with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world titles on the line. Boxing royalty is set to attend, including the likes of Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko – who Fury famously defeated in 2015 – and Lewis.

Ronaldo is often sitting ringside at these events, given he now plays in the Middle East with Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr. Upon arriving at the Kingdom Arena, Ronaldo was asked who he is backing to win the main event – and he refused to reveal his thoughts, simply saying: “I support the sport.”

The 39-year-old is sat ringside alongside Fury’s heavyweight Anthony Joshua, who beat Francis Ngannou in his last outing. Joshua clashed with Usyk twice, losing his world titles the first time around in 2021 before falling again a year later.

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Ronaldo is a big fan of combat sports. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has previously expressed interest in UFC, MMA and boxing, even suggesting he prefers watching these events over a football game.

Back in December 2020, Ronaldo said: “Playing football is my passion, but I prefer watching other sports on TV. Between watching a football match or a boxing or UFC fight, I choose boxing or UFC.”

On Friday, Usyk weighed in at 223lb, narrowly edging his career-high of 221lb – a weight he beat Joshua at twice as well as Daniel Dubois in 2023. Meanwhile, Fury came in at 259lb.

It is a risky game plan for Usyk, as a heavier weight may prove detrimental to his impressive speed and work rate. Usyk is the former undisputed cruiserweight champion – becoming the first boxer in the division to hold all four major titles – and his smaller size among heavyweights has proved to help him thanks to his speed. 

Unlike Usyk, Fury is lighter than he was in previous bouts. He is 15.7lb lighter than he was in October when the Gypsy King scored a controversial decision win over Ngannou at his career-heaviest weight.

The boisterous Fury leaned his head into Usyk during the weigh-in before pushing him. The moment sparked a brawl between the two sides on stage, capping a tense and fiery week of build-up in Saudi Arabia. 

“I’m going to knock him right out,” Fury declared. “I’m coming for his heart. He’s getting it tomorrow, spark out. They [his team] can all get it if they want it.”

Fury, who boasts a 34-0-1 record, and Usyk – who is 21-0 in his career – face off on Saturday 18th May.