By Joiner Martínez
03 Feb 2024, 18:23 PM EST
The promoters of the fight between the British Tyson Fury and the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk for the unification of the world belts in the premier heavyweight category, initially scheduled for February 17, was rescheduled to May 18 in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
The clash will unify Fury’s WBC heavyweight championship with Ukrainian Usyk’s WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts, crowning the first unified heavyweight boxing champion since 1999.
Fury, 35, won his WBC championship after knocking out American Deontay Wilder in 2020, while Usyk, 37, won his belts after beating Britain’s Anthony Joshua in 2021. Both boxers are undefeated in their professional careers.
The last heavyweight to have unified the world titles of the federations that govern boxing is the British Lennox Lewis, in 1999-2000.
The two fighters appeared on a live YouTube program, with Fury from Saudi Arabia, accompanied by Minister Turki Al-Sheikh, the promoter of major sporting events in the country and a great boxing fan.
Al-Sheikh has guaranteed that the fight will take place on May 18, because it was the deadline given by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to make his defense.
Al-Sheikh has also explained that if for any reason one of the two contestants could not attend this fight, they will be compensated. “I guarantee both fighters more than $10 million dollars if either of them can’t make the fight. This is the first and second thing: I guarantee a great fight the same night for the other,” said the current owner of UD Almería.
Postponed due to a Fury cut
Fury was putting the finishing touches to the training camp in Riyadh when he suffered a gruesome cut over his right eye during sparring on Friday. He required 15 stitches to close the wound, making it impossible for him to fight for two weeks.
“I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such magnificent condition,” Fury said. “I feel bad for everyone involved in this big event and will work diligently to reschedule the date once the eye has healed.”
“I can only apologize to everyone affected, including my own team, Team Usyk, the fighters, partners and fans of the card, as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Fighters typically finish sparring 10 days in advance, so this was one of Fury’s last sparring sessions before the fight.
Keep reading:
Tyson Fury suffers an injury that causes the suspension of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury promoter ends rumors and rules out a fight against Usyk in December
The millionaire purse that Tyson Fury could take for fighting Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia