By Jake Tiernan: Oleksandr Usyk insists that Tyson Fury is contractually bound to face him on December 23rd for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
A fight between Fury & Usyk would likely generate less interest now if it takes place in December, given what happened last Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight’s outcome, which saw Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) win a controversial ten-round split decision over Francis Ngannou (0-1), would taint a match against Usyk if it takes place before the end of the year.
Fury is better off delaying the Usyk fight, hoping that fans forget what happened last Saturday night and will still be eager to see him face Usyk. The longer the fight is delayed, it will help erase the memory fans have of Fury looking so poor against Ngannou.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, is saying that he won’t be able to face IBF/WBA/WBO champion Usyk on the 23rd of December date after his grueling war with the hard-hitting Francis Ngannou last Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fury was knocked down hard in the third round and badly stunned by Ngannou in the eighth, which showed that he appeared to lose consciousness for a split second after the planet-splitting left hook connected to his big lantern jaw.
“Uncle Frank [Warren] says some sneaky things. We have a contract that says the fight has to take place on Dec 23rd,” said Oleksandr Usyk to Boxing King Media about Frank Warren, stating that Tyson Fury won’t face him in December.
The boxing world feels that Ngannou was robbed last Saturday night, and they now view him as the uncrowned king of the heavyweight division and, in reality, the new WBC champion.
You can’t blame Usyk for insisting that the fight with Fury still go ahead in December because there’s a lot of money he will miss out on by that match-up not taking place then.
If Fury needs a six to twelve months’ break from boxing to physically recover from the beating he took from the sledge-hammered fists of Ngannou, Usyk would need to fight him dangerous IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic for a lot less dough, and there’s a good chance that he loses that contest. If that happens, the 24k ‘Golden Ship Fury’ will have sailed permanently away.
The punishment that Fury took at the hands of the MMA fighter Ngannou last night would make it tough for the 6’9″ Tyson to jump back in the ring in two months to fight the fast-footed, highly accurate puncher Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) on December 23rd.
“Let Fury vacate his title first, then he can take his rest. Tyson, we must fight, we must do it, Dec 23rd. See you in the ring,” said Oleksandr.
