The date of the long-awaited heavyweight title unification fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been changed.
In a special breaking edition of MMA hourTurki Alarusik, advisor to the Saudi royal family and promoter of Fury vs. Usyk, announced that the fight will take place on May 18th. As an incentive, Alarusik said that if either fighter withdraws from a fight, he will forfeit his $10 million in cash for that fight. Fight.
“If Usyk is scared, I’ll call him.” [Anthony] Joshua vs. Tyson,” Alarusik said. “If Tyson is scared, then Usyk will call any fighter he wants, my name on this one. We have assurances from both sides and they know it.”
Fury and Usyk appeared on the special and agreed to new dates.
The location of the fight remains the same, with Fury and Usyk scheduled to clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alarusik said the Feb. 17 event, which was scheduled to feature a heavyweight fight, will not take place.
This match will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, while Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) holds the WBC title.
The fight was originally scheduled for February 17, but Fury suffered a significant break in training and was forced to withdraw. A video released after the news showed Fury getting cut with an elbow while sparring in the ring.
“There’s nothing anyone can do about cuts from sparring. They happen quite often,” Fury said of the injury on Saturday, adding that he needed 11 stitches in hospital. “I’ve never had it before. It’s a first for everything.”
Alarusik added that “special cameras” have been installed at Fury’s camp to observe Fury’s training and check for injuries on the champion. Usyk said he “just smiled” when he heard the news and continued training. Uzi’s manager Egris Klimas was less convinced.
“If you want to cut it, you might be able to cut it,” Klimas said. “Because he didn’t want to fight Usyk. He’s scared.”
“Why wouldn’t you want to fight for the best salary of your life and spend 10 weeks in training camp,” Fury fired back. “Why? Why do you think I don’t want to fight?”
“That’s why you didn’t want to fight him last time,” Klimas answered.
“[Usyk] I pulled it out last time,” Fury spat. “You’re a son of a bitch who’s never fought in your life, and yet you call me a coward, you son of a bitch.”
There was initially talk that Usyk could remain on the February 17 card and face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic. However, Turki Alalcik, an adviser to the Saudi royal family, later announced that the Fury-Usyk fight would be “rescheduled for a later date and tickets will be refunded to the public.” Alarusik said Saturday that Hrgovic will have a chance to fight on the March 8 fight card.
Fury’s previous opponent, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, immediately reacted to the news and proposed a unified title fight with Anthony Joshua on March 8th.
Alarusik also announced that a light heavyweight title unification fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will take place on June 1 in Riyadh.