Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk finally seems set to face Tyson Fury in a battle for the undisputed heavyweight title after the pair were locked in talks throughout 2023 – but fans will have to wait a little longer than initially promised.
Before his fight with Francis Ngannou, Fury said that he would sue Usyk should they not meet in the ring on the contracted date of December 23.
It is now his team who are changing the plans after he was dropped and taken the distance by the former UFC Champion last weekend.
Post-Ngannou-fight, Usyk – perhaps responding to the initial legal threat from Fury – was adamant he wanted the fight to go ahead this year, and his team said they would require proof of injury should it be pushed back.
In an interview with Reuters, the undefeated southpaw has now said February will do, and plans to add more elements to his training to make it time well spent.
“It could be February and I would very much like it to be February,”
“I was ready to fight on the 23rd but since Fury got some injuries in the last fight, a knockdown, then probably it will be postponed to next year.”
“I’ll just do more technical work. Technically, nothing changes. I just have a little more time for some additional tasks, and that’s it.”
An official date is yet to be confirmed, but an announcement is expected to made next week for the showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.