Fury and Usyk desperately seek heavyweight greatness

If you think that nine different belts, $100m and bragging rights are the only prizes in tonight's undisputed fight in Saudi Arabia, then you would be wrong.

- STEVE BUNCE

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are competing in the first undisputed heavyweight championship fight since late 1999, and they are fighting for the right to walk in the giant footsteps of sport's greatest and best-known champions. The heavyweight champion, an undisputed version, is a serious contender for sport's finest champion.

The heavyweight championship of the world was once known as the richest prize in sport, the champion was the most recognisable face in the sport and, in the case of Muhammad Ali, often the most recognisable man on the planet.

The heavyweight championship was a cherished title, the greatest and often the most controversial boxers held the crown; Jack Johnson was the sport's first Black champion, winning the title in 1908, Joe Louis was a hero, Rocky Marciano was unbeaten, Ali was christened "the greatest", Mike Tyson was the most notorious, and Lennox Lewis was regal.