Fury Vs. Usyk Will Now Take Place In February 2024 Following The Gypsy King’s ‘Injury’
In some top boxing news, Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk has been delayed with the news that the bout will now take place in February 2024 in another major setback for boxing fans.
The duo were expected to face each other on December 23rd, 2023, after finally agreeing a deal which would have crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.
Lennox Lewis was the last man to achieve such a feat after having beaten Evander Holyfield to win all the belts. However, Fury’s performance against Francis Ngannou has appeared to complicate matters.
The Gypsy King laboured towards a split-decision win, with some in the boxing community feeling that Ngannou had been robbed.
Meanwhile, Fury did suffer some blows during the fight, particularly a left hook which sent the fighter crashing to the canvas in round three. And it appears that this has been enough to delay the fight until next year.
Fury-Usyk
“Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources told ESPN.
“Fury-Usyk was planned for Dec. 23 before Fury struggled in a far tougher-than-expected win over Francis Ngannou. Fury suffered two cuts,” ESPN’s Mike Coppinger said
The comments were a huge turnaround from what the Gypsy King had stated before the fight with Ngannou. The WBC heavyweight champion was very vocal bout how Usyk would be sued if he did not abide by the December date.
“Usyk’s a sausage. I expect it to be taking place in December, that’s what I’ve been told, so I’ve got no reason to disbelieve it. Usyk has to fight me in December, doesn’t have a choice.
“He signed the contract, so if he doesn’t, he’s breached contract and he gets sued. So he doesn’t really have a choice,” Fury stated
Krassyuk On Fury
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian dismissed worries over him making the date by confirming that he was ready for a bout at the end of the year.
It is not surprising, then, that the news has not gone down well with Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, who has demanded that Fury prove such an injury.
“We have a date in the contract but c’mon, we are reasonable people. If he is really injured and he is really unable to fight that might happen to any fighter. It has to be done in a proper way. If he is really injured then there is some kind of medical procedure that certifies his injury.
“Then probably that’s OK. If it’s just they don’t want to fight Usyk because he is weak, and they don’t want to take risk, then it doesn’t sound reasonable for me because you know why? What’s the difference between losing to Usyk on December 23 or losing to Usyk on January 17 or losing to Usyk, let’s say, February 13th. there’s no significant difference. The sooner the better,” Krassyuk revealed
The news is ultimately a huge setback for boxing fans, who will simply have to wait longer to see the fight play out. Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingblitz.
