The heavyweight title unifier fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled to May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a $10 million penalty for either fighter if they withdraw.
Well, folks, we’ve got a new date for the much-awaited heavyweight title unifier. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to face off.
This juicy tidbit came straight from the horse’s mouth. During a special edition of The MMA Hour, Saudi Arabia royal adviser Turki Alalshikh spilled the beans. He’s also the promoter for Fury vs. Usyk, by the way.
So, when’s the big day? May 18. And here’s the kicker: if any fighter backs out, they’ll lose a whopping $10 million from their purse.
Alalshikh’s got a plan B too. “If Usyk chickens out, I’ll bring in [Anthony] Joshua to fight Tyson,” he said. “And if Tyson gets cold feet, I’ll find someone Usyk wants to fight. I’ve got my reputation on the line here. Both sides know what’s at stake.”
Fury and Usyk? They’re on board with the new date.
The venue? No changes there. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is still the battleground. Alalshikh confirmed that the Feb. 17 event, initially planned for the heavyweight fight, is off the table.
The stakes? High, very high. The winner will be the undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs)? He’s got the WBC title.
The original plan was for the fight to happen on Feb. 17. But Fury got a nasty cut during training and had to pull out. A video surfaced later, showing Fury getting elbowed in the ring.
Fury’s take on the injury? “S*** happens,” he said. “First time I’ve had a cut. Needed 11 stitches at the hospital.”
Alalshikh’s got eyes everywhere. He’s got a “special camera” in Fury’s camp. He confirmed the injury. Usyk’s reaction? He “just smiled” and kept training. Usyk’s manager, Eglis Klimas, wasn’t so sure.
“Maybe he wanted to get cut,” Klimas suggested. “He’s scared of Usyk.”
Fury didn’t take that lying down. “Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life?” he retorted.
Klimas shot back, “That’s why you didn’t want to fight him last time.”
Fury’s response? “[Usyk] pulled out last time. You’re a piece of s*** who’s never had a fight in his life, and you’re calling me a coward, you rat bastard.”
There was some chatter about Usyk facing Filip Hrgovic on the Feb. 17 card. But Alalshikh later announced that Fury vs. Usyk would be rescheduled. Tickets would be refunded. Hrgovic, he said, could fight on the March 8 card.
Fury’s previous opponent, Francis Ngannou, had a quick reaction. He suggested his March 8 fight with Anthony Joshua be for the unified title.
And there’s more. Alalshikh announced a light heavyweight title unifier between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. That’s happening on June 1 in Riyadh.