Tyson Fury’s highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk, scheduled for Saturday, February 17, has been postponed due to a cut sustained by Fury during sparring.
The British boxer was set to face Usyk in the ‘Ring of Fire’ showdown in Saudi Arabia, a bout that would have determined the undisputed heavyweight champion.
The cut above Tyson Fury’s right eye, described as a “freak cut,” required urgent medical attention and significant stitching, leading to the fight’s postponement. Queensberry Promotions, Fury’s promotion company, revealed the severity of the injury. The cut forced Fury to undergo immediate medical attention, raising concerns about his readiness for the scheduled bout.
FURY VS USYK STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/z7nf4Q3N70
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) February 2, 2024
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announces full refunds of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk event
Tyson Fury’s cut reportedly occurred during sparring with Croatian heavyweight Agron Smakici in Riyadh. The unexpected injury disappointed fans and stakeholders who were eagerly anticipating the historic clash between Fury, the WBC champion, and Usyk, holding the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles. The winner of this bout was poised to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Tyson Fury expressed devastation over the postponement, apologizing to everyone involved as he said “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such a superb condition. I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event.”
He assured a diligent return to the ring once his eye has healed and expressed optimism about rescheduling the fight as he said “I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed. I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
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Egis Klimas, Usyk’s manager, expressed skepticism about Fury’s willingness to face Usyk, stating that Fury “will do anything to not face Usyk.” Klimas added a touch of sarcasm, suggesting that Fury might have been hit by a frying pan. Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk commented on Fury’s post “Wishing you soonest recovery. God sent you a sign. Think of retirement, brother.”
Queensberry Promotions, while acknowledging the disappointment, stated that they would work with all stakeholders and Saudi Arabia to reschedule the fight as soon as possible. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has announced the full cancellation of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk event originally set for February 17th. The bout will be rescheduled for a later date, and ticket refunds will be provided.
In light of Tyson Fury's unexpected injury, we're sending our best wishes for his swift and full recovery 🙏
As a result, the eagerly awaited #RingOfFire heavyweight championship will be rescheduled
Not to worry, your ticket refunds are on us ❤️Stay tuned for further… pic.twitter.com/S3tFsABEOZ
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) February 2, 2024
Tyson Fury’s record stands at 34 wins, one draw (against Deontay Wilder), and zero losses. Meanwhile, Usyk, undefeated in his professional career, holds a record of 21-0. The bout between these two heavyweight champions was highly anticipated, as it could have resulted in the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Despite the setback, both fighters expressed a desire to reschedule the bout, maintaining the significance of their clash for the undisputed heavyweight title. Fans will have to wait for updates on Fury’s recovery and the new fight date, hoping that the ‘Ring of Fire’ showdown will eventually take place.
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