Fight Network Presents Fury vs. Ustinov LIVE this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
TORONTO | NEW YORK (July 24, 2014) - Fight Network, the world's premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of the Frank Warren and Hennessy Sports-promoted mega show from the Phones 4 U Arena in Manchester, U.K., as hard-hitting British superstar Tyson Fury will face Belarusian power puncher Alexander Ustinov.
With live coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET this Saturday, July 26, the title-stacked show also features Billy Joe Saunders in the biggest challenge of his career against undefeated Italian Emanuele Blandamura for the vacant European middleweight championship, exciting Liverpool light middleweight Liam Smith defending his British title against Jason Welborn, Manchester ace Terry Flanagan challenging Martin Gethin for the vacant British lightweight title, an exciting Manchester-Liverpool clash sees Jack Catterall face Nathan Brough for the vacant Central Area light welterweight championship, plus top talents Ronnie Heffron and Liam Williams collide in an eliminator for the British light middleweight title.
Ustinov is the 6-foot-7, 300-pound giant who Dereck Chisora, Fury's original opponent, broke his hand against in sparring. Fury was left disappointed with Chisora's withdrawal, but promoter Warren moved quick to ensure all Fury's hard training hasn't gone to waste by securing him a fight with the world-ranked Ustinov.
Fury, who himself has 16 KOs from 22 undefeated fights, says he'll take out his anger and frustration on Ustinov for destroying his fight with Chisora.
He said, "The first thing is I'm happy to still be fighting this Saturday and that the fans will get what they paid for and see a good fight. We've had a hard training camp and I'm in the shape of my life, expecting to knockout Chisora, but now I'm going to have take it out on Ustinov and make sure he takes the full force of my anger. Chisora will now see what he was going to get on the night - knocked out. Strangely, I'm going to break the man who broke Chisora's hand. Full credit for Ustinov for taking the fight, he's a big lad, more importantly he's a credible world ranked opponent and he must fancy his chances. We're two gladiators, but he's going to feel what it like against a world class heavyweight like me."
Frank Warren added, "Under the circumstances, Ustinov is a brilliant replacement for Chisora at this late stage. He's fit and ready after training and sparring for two weeks with Chisora at his gym, he's got a great record, like Fury he's giant of a man and has got some serious knockout punch power. Ustinov is world ranked inside the top ten of two major governing bodies and didn't hesitate about fighting Fury which shows his confidence. Fury's been preparing for a shorter man in Chisora and he'll have to adjust his preparations, but with two huge men in the ring throwing big punches, anything can happen."
Ustinov, a former kickboxing champion and MMA fighter, has won 29 out of 30 fights, with 21 ending by knockout and 13 coming inside three rounds. He's world ranked in two of the major governing bodies: eight by the IBF and nine by the WBA. In his last fight, he ended the career of former world title contender David Tua, outpointing him to win the WBA Pan African championship. His sole loss was to Kubrat Pulev in September 2012 in a European title challenge.
Fight Network's live broadcast will air on Cablevision's Optimum TV in the U.S., nationwide in Canada and internationally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
For a full listing of Fight Network's broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com and follow on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.
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