The undercard lineup for the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk event offers a mix of bouts catering to diverse preferences. The event is scheduled to commence at 2:00 p.m. ET this Saturday and will air on DAZN in Riyadh.
While the initial trio of undercard fights has garnered favorable attention from some fans, the subsequent matches seem to be met with indifference.
Highlight Matches
- Frank Sanchez vs. Agit Kabayel
- Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis
- Joe Cordina vs. Anthony Cacace
From my perspective, the standout fight on the undercard features heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Agit Kabayel, providing a compelling matchup of skill and strength, though not without flaws.
Kabayel, with an undefeated record of 24-0 and 16 knockouts, has secured noteworthy victories against opponents like Dereck Chisora and Arslanbek Makhmudov. However, his track record against lesser-known fighters questions the level of his competition, especially at 31 years old.
In contrast, Frank Sanchez, boasting a similar undefeated record of 24-0 with 17 knockouts, exhibits the prowess that could potentially land him in a main event slot. Personally, I believe Sanchez has the ability to triumph over Kabayel and could even pose a challenge to Fury in the future bouts of Fury’s career.
The remaining matches on the undercard fail to excite, as they pit the more established fighters against opponents who are deemed unlikely to pose serious threats.
One such instance is the rematch between Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia and the 39-year-old Mairis Briedis, a bout that may seem unnecessary given Opetaia’s clear victory over Briedis in their previous encounter in 2022.
The lack of controversy or competitiveness in their prior bout, coupled with Briedis’ prolonged hiatus since then, raises questions about the logic behind this rematch. Given Briedis’ age and inactivity, an alternative approach such as a tune-up fight might have been more suitable than a direct rematch with the younger Opetaia.
Remaining Matches: Not Worth the Time
Moses Itauma-Ilja Mazencev
Sergey Kovalev-Robin Sirwan
Mark Chamberlain-Joshua Oluwaseun
Isaac Lowe-Hasibullah Ahmadi
David Nyika-Michael Seitz
Daniel Lapin-Octavio Pudivitr
Considering the lackluster appeal, the matches featuring fighters like Isaac Lowe and Sergey Kovalev among others are perceived as mere fillers that add little value to the event. Eliminating these bouts and adjusting the PPV cost to a more reasonable range, around $40, could have alleviated any dissatisfaction among viewers. While these fights may cater to specific fan preferences, they generally lack the excitement and competitiveness sought after in high-profile undercard events.
