THIS was intended to signify a remarkable period for British heavyweight boxing.

That is, until Oleksandr Usyk emerged on the scene.

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The anticipated clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua was not merely the most significant potential matchup in British boxing history — it was also the most eagerly awaited sporting event in the country.

Britain had never witnessed two elite heavyweights at the pinnacle of their careers simultaneously.

Additionally, there had yet to be a group of credible contenders consistently listed within the top ten worldwide.

After years of avoidance and political wrangling, an opportunity arose with the Saudi investment in top-tier boxing, finally allowing Fury and Joshua to step into the ring against each other.

While the substantial funding from Saudi Arabia may raise ethical concerns, it undeniably has the power to turn any appealing matchup into reality.

Yet, the Fury-Joshua showdown may now be destined never to happen.

And if it does, it would come ten years too late, resembling the lackluster encounter between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2015.

Usyk is the key player behind this transformation. Here in the Saudi capital tomorrow, the unbeaten Ukrainian, boasting an impressive record of 22-0, seeks to fulfill his mission of besting the golden generation of British heavyweights.

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This will be Usyk’s sixth consecutive bout against British opponents and his seventh in the last eight.

He first took on Tony Bellew, defending his undisputed cruiserweight title, followed by fights against Derek Chisora, Joshua (twice), Daniel Dubois, and now Fury, marking him as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century.

Watch Tyson Fury’s intense statement as the Gypsy King promises to put ‘f*****’ Oleksandr Usyk ‘in the hurt locker

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All these rivals succumbed to a self-assured cruiserweight who is also an astute thinker in the boxing world.

Usyk burst into the national limelight in September 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, during one of Britain’s initial major sporting events following the pandemic.

This marked Joshua’s comeback after fighting abroad against Andy Ruiz Jr and a closed-doors bout during Covid.

The ‘world-renowned home of the Spurs’ had never appeared more vibrant, celebrating a festive atmosphere after 18 months of challenges.

Usyk, seen as a highly tactical fighter but considerably lighter than champion Joshua, was expected to face a quick knockout.

However, no one present that night could forget the thorough lesson Usyk imparted to Joshua as he defeated the Watford fighter to capture the WBA, IBF, and WBO world titles.

While Joshua’s initial professional defeat to Ruiz was due to a significant early blow that disoriented him, this bout was a masterclass that demolished Joshua’s standing as a top-tier fighter.

It also halted another potential clash between Joshua and Fury — heavily publicized since mid-last decade — yet again.

Though the rematch with Joshua — delayed due to the Russian aggression in Usyk’s homeland — was a significantly closer fight in Jeddah, the Crimean fighter unmistakably came out on top.

He also dismantled the outdated belief that a ‘good big man will always conquer a good little man’.

Following Usyk’s knockout victory over the young British challenger Dubois in his first heavyweight title defense, the much-anticipated undisputed title showdown occurred here in May.

The Gypsy King was heavily favored, being nearly 40 pounds heavier and a fighter who had previously excelled against the legendary Wladimir Klitschko and had triumphed over the formidable Deontay Wilder to secure titles in impressive fashion.

However, while Fury maintained a slim lead for the first seven rounds, he was rocked and bloodied by a few powerful punches in the eighth and was saved by the round’s conclusion in the ninth amid a barrage of strikes from the Ukrainian.

Usyk won by split decision, a result that many believe should have been unanimous, and few experts expect anything less than another Usyk victory tomorrow night, possibly by an even wider margin.

Meanwhile, the Saudi benefactors of the sport graciously allowed for an all-British IBF world title matchup between Joshua and Dubois at Wembley — where Joshua faced a thorough defeat against the younger opponent.

This has subsequently diminished the appeal of the AJ-Fury clash.

If it were to occur — and Fury has recently downplayed expectations, suggesting Joshua is ‘in tatters’ following his loss to Dubois — it would not possess the same excitement it once had.

And it is Usyk, a commendable and genuinely likable figure, who has carefully dismantled the dreams of countless British boxing enthusiasts.

This Saturday night, he aims to finish the task.

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