Highlights
- The heavyweight unification fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled for May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Both fighters have agreed to the new date and location, and there will be a $10 million fine for anyone who pulls out from the scheduled fight.
- There is skepticism from Usyk's manager about Fury's injury, but Fury defended his commitment to the match and emphasized the importance of the fight.
The eagerly awaited unification showdown in the heavyweight division between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled.
In an episode of The MMA Hour, Turki Alalshikh, the royal adviser of Saudi Arabia and the promoter for Fury vs. Usyk revealed that the bout will now take place on May 18. As a notable incentive, Alalshikh declared that if either fighter pulls out from the scheduled date, they will be penalized with a $10 million deduction from their fight purse. This stern warning came from Alalshikh, seated alongside Fury, the fighter who had previously postponed the bout twice.
Notably, Fury engaged in a match against Ngannou in Riyadh last year, where he was knocked down, and many spectators believed Ngannou won the contest. Recently, Fury delayed the fight once again due to an injury sustained from a cut during a sparring session.
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Turki Also Reveals Spy Camera At Fury Camp In Wild Interview
Both Fury and Usyk, featured on the special show, agreed to the revised date, maintaining the fight's location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh confirmed the cancellation of the Feb. 17 event initially planned for the heavyweight fight. The bout aims to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion, with Usyk holding the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles, and Fury holding the WBC title.
Alalshikh mentioned having a "special camera" monitoring Fury's training to verify the champion's injury. He also mentioned that he would not risk his reputation for a hoax. Usyk, upon hearing the news, stated he "just smiled" and continued training.
However, Usyk's manager, Eglis Klimas, expressed skepticism, suggesting that if Fury wanted to avoid the fight due to cowardice, he could find a way to get injured. Fury vehemently defended his commitment to the match, questioning why he would not want to compete for the biggest payday of his life after investing 10 weeks into training. The exchange heated up, with Fury accusing Klimas of being a "rat bastard" who never had a fight.
Turki emphasized the importance of the fight, stating that he delayed a hospital stay to make it happen. He announced that there would incur a $10 million fine if either pulled out and each fighter has a guaranteed big fight if there is a change of plans.
“If Usyk is scared, I will call for [Anthony] Joshua vs. Tyson,” Alalshikh said. “If Tyson is scared, I will call for any fighter Usyk wants, and it’s my name on this thing. We have a guarantee from both sides, and they know it now.”
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The IBF Mandatory Challenger Has Options
Earlier discussions hinted at the possibility of Usyk facing mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic on the Feb. 17 card. Alalshikh also mentioned that Hrgovic would have an opportunity to fight on the March 8 card, offering him six names: Daniel Dubios, Jared Miller, Agit Kabayel, Jared Anderson, Martin Bakole and Frank Sanchez.
