Tyson Fury, the reigning heavyweight champion, has faced a setback as a cut over his right eye sustained during sparring on Friday has required stitches. Consequently, the highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight championship clash against Oleksandr Usyk, initially set for February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed, as confirmed by Fury’s promoter, Queensberry.
Expressing his disappointment, Fury stated, “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition.” He extended regrets to all involved parties, including his team, Team Usyk, fellow fighters on the undercard, partners, fans, and the hosts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A makeup date for the bout is yet to be determined, pending an evaluation of Fury’s eye injury by medical professionals. A spokesperson for Queensberry Promotions explained, “Once the doctors have appraised Tyson’s eye, we will have a better idea of the period of recovery needed.”
In response to Fury’s injury, heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic expressed his willingness to step up and face Usyk for the three heavyweight titles on February 17. Hrgovic, ranked sixth by ESPN among heavyweights, is the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s IBF heavyweight championship.
Efforts are underway to explore the possibility of arranging a bout between Usyk and Hrgovic to salvage the February 17 event in Riyadh.
Fury, with a record of 34-0-1 and 24 KOs, and Usyk, with a record of 21-0 and 14 KOs, were poised to headline what was anticipated to be the most significant heavyweight title bout since Lennox Lewis faced Mike Tyson in 2002. Initially scheduled for December 23, the bout had already faced a delay due to Fury’s previous match against Francis Ngannou in October in Riyadh.
The agreement between Fury and Usyk includes a two-way rematch clause, ensuring the potential for consecutive high-stakes showdowns between the two fighters.