Fury vs Usyk 2 LIVE: Latest news and updates as John Fury quits son’s corner ahead of press conference

Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum praises Usyk’s spirit and strength amid Ukraine’s war with Russia… but of course he backs the “Gypsy King”.

Uysk’s manager Egis Klimas is up now. “We will see again, on Saturday night, who Oleksandr Usyk is.”

Fury’s manager Spencer Brown: “(Fury) has lived like a monk. He thinks he’s had something taken from him that he shouldn’t have. And he wants it back.”

Brown also credits Usyk and the Ukrainians in general for their fighting spirit, but does the same for the “travelling people”.

“His grandmother’s grandmother could fight,” Brown says of the smiling Fury.

Moses Itauma will speak next after his opponent Demsey McKean does his part.

Asked about McKean’s sure prediction of a victory, 19-year-old Itauma says: “It didn’t sound credible, I can’t lie.

“But for me this is like my world title fight.”

Eddie Hearn reiterates his prediction that Fury will win, but he stresses that it will take “something extraordinary” to beat Usyk.

Hearn says Fury is capable of something extraordinary.

Dave Allen then speaks, ahead of his match with Johnny Fisher – one of his old sparring partners.

Allen says he has a son, and if his son grows up to be “half the man Fisher is,” he’ll be a proud father.

Allen has also sparred Fury and Usyk and – despite sitting near Usyk – predicts a win for Fury.

Usyk welcomes the audience. Nothing of note said by the Ukrainian yet, as his promoter Krassyuk interprets for him.

Fury’s promoter Warren says: “The first fight was magnificent, it was a great fight. It had everything, very close fight. This time I know these guys have shared the ring for 12 rounds, they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“It’s going to be about who can exploit the weaknesses. I believe Tyson Fury will get through this and I don’t think this fight will go far (…) Don’t blink after the first bell.”

Fury: “I’m going to excrete a whole lot of pain. I’m going to put this fool in the injury closet for sure.”

“I have nothing to say except that there will be a whole lot of hurt and pain in this fight – you see.

“The first game I talked, I joked — my whole career (I did that).”

Fury is out first, wearing a black hat and a white suit with flowers patterned across it.

Now comes Usyk, whose arrival was heralded by the Ukrainian singer who performed at yesterday’s open training session.

Usyk, the defending champion, is wearing a purple suit with the outlines of golden animals on the front.

Dev Sahni arrives to host the press conference.

Okay, many familiar faces are now sitting at two tables up on stage.

We have promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren sharing a laugh (old enemies, now friends!), and Fury’s manager Spencer Brown.

Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas is also present, as is Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk.

Johnny Fisher and his opponent Dave Allen are up there; fellow heavyweights Moses Itauma and his opponent Demsey McKean are also present.

One or two others are sitting down, I can’t quite see who right now…

Michael Buffer kicks things off and he quickly announces the arrivals of Fury and Usyk!

So a different setup than most Riyadh season press conferences.

The press conference coverage is underway! Indy Sports columnist Steve Bunce is part of the punditry team; hey buncey!

We’ve just heard that, as well as the main event fighters, we’ll be hearing from select boxers from the undercard – plus certain trainers and promoters.

Not every undercard fighter will speak, is what has been suggested.

So the press conference should start any time now. Usually these events are split into two parts: an undercard conference and one for the main event.

This is how Saturday’s match card looks from the first game to the last:

Mohammad Alakel vs Joshua Ocampo (Super Featherweight)

Andrii Novytskyi vs Edgar Ramirez (Heavyweight)

Daniel Lapin vs Dylan Colin (light-heavyweight)

Rhys Edwards vs Peter McGrail (Super Bantamweight)

Isaac Lowe vs Lee McGregor (Featherweight)

Johnny Fisher vs. Dave Allen (Heavyweight)

Moses Itauma vs Demsey McKean (Heavyweight)

Serhii Bohachuk vs Ishmael Davis (super-welterweight)

Oleksandr Usyk (C) vs Tyson Fury 2 (WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles)

Subject to late changes; ‘C’ denotes champion.