LIVE COVERAGE: Press conference held at Morecambe FC ahead of Tyson Fury undisputed heavyweight boxing title fight

A press conference has been held at Morecambe Football Club ahead of Tyson Fury's undisputed world heavyweight boxing title fight.

Fury, his promoter Frank Warren, manager Spencer Brown and trainer Sugar Hill spoke to the media less than six weeks before the WBC champion's historic clash with Oleksandr Usyk.

The world's boxing media descended on Morecambe, home of 'The Gypsy King', for Wednesday's press conference.

WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Fury will fight Usyk on May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for all of the recognised world heavyweight title belts.

The fight, billed as 'Ring of Fire', will be the first time the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles will have all been on the line, and will crown the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.

Both boxers are undefeated in their professional careers.

Usyk from Ukraine is the WBA, IBF and WBO champ, and is a former undisputed cruiserweight world champion and Olympic gold medallist.

The fight was due to take place in February but was delayed when Tyson suffered a bad cut over his eye while sparring. 

LIVE BLOG

Noon - Hello from the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, home of Morecambe FC, where the world's boxing media are assembling in the Local Choice Suite ahead of today's Tyson Fury press conference. 

Well known faces from the fight game including journalists Adam Smith, Steve Bunce (pictured) and Gareth A Davies, and former world champion Carl Frampton are among those who are here for today's event. 

Here's the set up!

We are expecting the press conference to start some time after 12.30pm.

12.50pm

Tyson, his family, promoter Frank Warren, manager Spencer Brown and trainer Sugar Hill have arrived.

They take their seats at the top table.

Tyson's dad John Fury is here.

Tyson's father sits himself down in the second row. There is no doubt who this man is, from his jacket alone! Tyson's wife Paris, and his brothers Tommy and Roman are also here, as is his training partner, Morecambe boxer Isaac Lowe.

Host Dev Sahni welcomes everyone to this press conference, the first time a media gathering of this level has ever been held in Morecambe for one of Tyson Fury's fights.

12.55pm Sahni kicks things off by welcoming everyone to Morecambe FC, home of the Shrimps!

He asks the WBC heavyweight champion how he felt about the cut he suffered in training in February.

"At first I was a little bit depressed for the first day or so," said Tyson.

"But I realised that God's timing is impeccable. It wasn't my time to fight for the championship. But it is going to be, by the time of May 18."

Tyson was asked about his training and said: "I'm preparing fantastic for it."

On his opponent Usyk, who was not at the press conference, Fury said: "I'm the best. I'm defending my bestness against him!"

Fury then told the assembled media that the fight is for more than just the four main heavyweight title belts, but also for the IBO Title, The Ring Magazine title and the lineal championship. Frank Warren then said it's also for the Riyadh Season belt, so eight championship belts will be on the line.

Spencer Brown, Tyson's manager (pictured below with Fury's trainer Sugar Hill Steward), said: "I'm seeing a man that's on a mission.

"He's never looked so good, in the last few years. He's in fantastic shape. He's brought his dad John into camp. It's very important to have his family around him. There's a very good buzz around the camp, which is fantastic."

Sugar Hill was asked about Fury's last fight, a disappointing performance in edging a split decision win over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou last October.

"I believe the Francis Ngannou fight (performance) was due to him having so much time off and not being mentally focussed like he is for this one here," said Hill.

Tyson then spoke about his opponent, saying: "It's not personal. It's strictly business. I don't hate him and he doesn't hate me. I respect him as a man and as a fighter."

Fury then spoke at length about his knowledge of boxing history, and cruiserweights like Usyk stepping up to heavyweight. He said even the great Evander Holyfield, former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion from the USA, "was found wanting" when he faced elite level heavyweights Riddick Bowe (who Holyfield lost to in two out of three fights in the 90s) and Lennox Lewis (who controversially drew with Holyfield, then beat him in a rematch in 1999).

Frank Warren said that Usyk is vulnerable to punches to the stomach saying he is a "crybaby" when it comes to "getting caught to the body".

"I genuinely believe Tyson will win this fight in explosive style," said Warren.

Sugar Hill and Spencer Brown both predicted Tyson will win by knockout, although John Fury said he expects more of a "chess match" with his son winning by stoppage late on.

At the end of the press conference, Tyson posed with his dad John, Frank Warren and trainer Sugar Hill Steward.

There was also a special message via speakerphone from Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, for the room!

Tyson then spoke to groups of media representatives from all over the globe. There is a huge amount of media presence at today's press conference and every reporter wanted to speak to 'The Gypsy King'.

For interviews with Tyson Fury, Frank Warren, Spencer Brown and Jodie Assitt from Morecambe FC, see here.

INTERVIEWS: Tyson Fury promises 'celebratory pub crawl' round Morecambe after undisputed fight - Beyond Radio