Nov 08 2023
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury Unification Bout Announcement Expected Next Week
The highly-anticipated unification clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, which will see the WBA, WBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) take on the WBC titleholder Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs), is on the verge of receiving an official announcement. The boxing world has been eagerly awaiting this monumental showdown, and fans will soon have a date to mark on their calendars.
Initial plans had Saudi Arabia as the host for the fight, scheduled for December 23. However, these plans were thrown into disarray when Tyson Fury, the 35-year-old Brit, encountered unexpected challenges against the debutant boxer and former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. Their 10-round non-title bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 28, took an unexpected turn. The Cameroonian-Frenchman Ngannou, at 37 years old, surprised many with his boxing prowess, even managing to floor Fury in the third round. Fury ultimately secured a razor-thin split decision victory, with scores of 95-94, 94-95, and 93-96.
A loss for Fury would have jeopardized his anticipated fight against the 36-year-old Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, but the victory, while keeping the fight alive, left lingering doubts about Fury's ability to defeat the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Usyk's promoter, Alex Krassyuk, expressed his concerns regarding Fury's performance, stating, "It was definitely not his best performance," adding, "Not even close to his [best] performance. I've never seen him like that, and I hope I will never see him like that."
Despite Fury's underwhelming performance, Krassyuk emphasized that Usyk was always confident in his abilities. He recognized Tyson Fury's weaknesses and knew the importance of a win.
The rescheduled bout is rumored to take place in late February, with an official announcement expected soon. Krassyuk extended his appreciation to the Saudis for their professionalism and understanding, as they work diligently to ensure that this battle of champions lives up to its potential.
As boxing enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of the official date, the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury showdown promises to be a monumental event in the world of heavyweight boxing, with both fighters aiming to solidify their legacies as champions.