Tyson Fury convinced of victory over 'cruiserweight' Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia

Tyson Fury insists he will cement his place as the best heavyweight of his generation when he faces Oleksandr Usyk for the unified world title in Saudi Arabia next month.

The Riyadh bout was rescheduled for May 18 from its original February 17 date after the British boxer suffered a cut in training, causing the division's first undisputed title fight in 25 years to be postponed.

Ukraine's Usyk holds the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts, while Fury is the WBC champion. Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk has won all of his 21 professional bouts, while Fury has 33 victories and one draw on his record.

The 37-year-old Usyk won his heavyweight titles by beating Britain's Anthony Joshua in 2021 and has defended his belts twice, including in an August 2022 rematch with Joshua. May's clash pits the division's universally recognised No 1 and No 2 fighters against each other and Fury is adamant it will be him who comes out on top.

"This is my time, my destiny, my era and my generation. Fact," declared the outspoken British fighter at a press conference in his hometown of Morecambe on Wednesday.

Fury looked in considerably better shape than his last outing – a humiliating split decision victory over MMA import Francis Ngannou in October 2023. Fury was even sent to the canvas by novice Ngannou, who was subsequently destroyed by Joshua in less than two rounds.

The 35-year-old was unusually subdued after that brush with defeat but the old bravado seemed to be back as he made a number of bold statements and predictions. Fury, who first won the world title against Usyk's countryman Wladimir Klitschko in 2016, is confident his size advantage will prove decisive.

Fury stands 2.06m tall – 15 centimetres more than his opponent.