The heavyweight championship bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, scheduled for February 17, has been postponed due to a cut Fury sustained during training.
Bummer, folks. Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk? Not happening.
Queensberry Promotions broke the news on Friday. Fury, the man with a record of 34-0-1 and 24 KOs, is out. A cut during training is to blame. The big fight was set for Feb. 17, but now? Not so much. Sports Illustrated was first to share the news.
Want the official statement and a pic of the cut? Scroll down.
Tyson Fury, the WBC Heavyweight Champion, had to postpone his fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the unified Champion. Why? A freak cut during a sparring session in Riyadh.
The cut’s above Fury’s right eye. It needed urgent medical attention and a lot of stitches. Recovery time is needed, so the fight with Usyk on Feb. 17 in Saudi Arabia is off.
A spokesperson said, “This is a massive disappointment. So many people worked hard to deliver this historic event to the world. Once the doctors check Tyson’s eye, we’ll know more about the recovery time. We’ll work with all the stakeholders and Saudi Arabia to reschedule this fight ASAP. We’ll keep everyone updated.”
Fury said in the statement, “I am absolutely devastated. I prepared for this fight for so long and was in superb condition. I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event. I will work towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.
“I can only apologize to everyone affected. My own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans. And our hosts and my friends in Saudi Arabia.”
The fight was set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The goal? Crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles, and Fury holds the WBC title.
Fury and Usyk have been talking about facing each other for years. The path became clear after Fury narrowly escaped a loss to PFL fighter and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou last October. Usyk, on the other hand, successfully defended his title against Daniel Dubois.
Sports Illustrated reported that Usyk still wants to compete on Feb. 17. But when will Fury return? That’s still unknown. Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs), the IBF mandatory challenger, has reportedly shown interest in replacing Fury.
Ngannou didn’t wait long to comment on the news. He suggested that his upcoming March 8 bout with boxing star Anthony Joshua should now decide who is the undisputed heavyweight champion.