By Alfredo Echenique
06 Feb 2024, 16:26 PM EST
One of the most anticipated fights of the year between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury was scheduled for February 17 in Saudi Arabia. This high-caliber confrontation will unify the titles of the heavyweight category, leaving the winner as the absolute champion of the weight.
However, this fight had to be postponed due to an injury that Fury sustained in sparring. The British cut part of his eyebrow, so he needed stitches and at least a couple of months of recovery, so he will not be able to fight on the scheduled date.
Given this situation, Usyk himself recently commented on it, stating that he does not blame his rival for what happened and that it is an understandable situation; Well, the world champion suffered this injury training and it could happen to anyone.
“I don’t judge anyone, anyone at all. It happens, it’s boxing. You have to take it seriously because we are on a different level with Tyson Fury. We have to cross out all the little things to continue preparing ourselves to get into the ring,” explained the Ukrainian from his training center.
Usyk also commented that he takes this fight very seriously. The Ukrainian even missed the birth of his son on January 28 because he was focused on his training prior to the fight against Fury. Something that stood out in his statements.
“I have put many things at stake. I didn’t celebrate any holidays, not New Year’s Eve, not my birthday, not my children’s birthdays that took place while I was training. I was not with my wife when she gave birth,” commented the world champion.
New date for the fight between Usyk and Fury
Days after confirming the suspension of the fight between Usyk and Fury due to the British boxer’s cut, both boxers appeared live on MMA Hour on YouTube also with the Saudi Arabian sports minister Turki Al-Sheikh. And they confirmed the new date of the fight.
In principle 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.
In addition, the Arab has guaranteed the boxers $10 million dollars even if the fight does not end up taking place for any reason. “I guarantee both fighters more than $10 million dollars if either of them can’t make the fight. This is the first and the second: I guarantee a great fight the same night for the other one,” he explained.
Keep reading:
· Tyson Fury suffers an injury that causes the suspension of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk
· May 18: Fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh now has a new date
· Manny Pacquiao will come out of retirement and wants to face big names like Ryan García and Gervonta Davis