The heavyweight title clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, after being rescheduled due to a cut sustained by Fury.
Tyson Fury is set to face Oleksandr Usyk on May 18, following the rescheduling of their highly anticipated heavyweight fight.
The plan was for Fury to vie for the undisputed heavyweight world champion title against Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 17. However, the bout was delayed on Friday due to Fury acquiring a significant cut above his right eye during sparring.
The 35-year-old British boxer underwent a procedure involving 11 stitches for the wound and requires sufficient time for recovery. Surprisingly, Saudi officials managed to reschedule the fight within a day. The upcoming match will determine whether Fury or Usyk secures the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO heavyweight world titles, aiming to become the undisputed heavyweight champion—a feat not achieved since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999.
Usyk’s camp had expressed interest in bringing in Croatian fighter Filip Hrgovic as a last-minute replacement for the upcoming bout in two weeks. However, this alternative plan has been abandoned. In October, Fury faced challenges against former UFC world champion Francis Ngannou, but he asserted being in excellent condition during his training camp until the injury occurred.
Fury made an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s YouTube show on Saturday night to talk about the new fight date. He revealed, “During sparring yesterday morning, the plan was to go for 12 rounds with four different opponents. Unfortunately, in the fifth round, I received an elbow to the eye. I had to go to the hospital and got 11 stitches. There’s not much you can do about a cut during sparring, it’s just one of those things.
He further stated, “I felt a great deal of disappointment. I had been in Saudi Arabia for five weeks, and everything was going incredibly well with my training. Unfortunately, it’s an unavoidable cut, and such occurrences are part of training camps. I understand that His Excellency invested significantly in promotion, but there’s nothing anyone can do. It’s just a matter of fate.”
The anticipated fight has been a prolonged process, with initial plans for a date at Wembley last April and another scheduled before Christmas in Saudi Arabia, all passing without fruition. A spokesperson for promoter Frank Warren expressed on Friday, “Although this is still emerging news, it is undoubtedly a significant letdown after the collective efforts of numerous individuals to bring this historic event to the global stage.”
After the doctors assess Tyson’s eye, a clearer understanding of the required recovery time will emerge. Once this information is available, we will collaborate earnestly with all parties involved, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to promptly reschedule the fight. We will, of course, keep everyone informed of any further developments.