By Geoffrey Ciani: It looked like it was finally going to happen again. In just a couple of short weeks, boxing fans were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to witness the official crowning of an undisputed world heavyweight champion.
WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was scheduled to square off against the unified IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on February 17. The winner of that fight would have produced our first undisputed world heavyweight champion in nearly a quarter of a century, the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since the great Lennox Lewis last held that distinction in April 2000.
In addition this would have produced the first undisputed world heavyweight champion during the modern 4 belt era. Unfortunately what was already nearly a 24 year wait will at least be closer to a 25 year wait now, or possibly longer, perhaps even much longer. As this recent setback proves, nothing is ever certain.
Just two weeks out from the big fight which carried great historical significance, Tyson Fury suffered a bad cut on his eye that will require stitches. The injury was the result of a sparring incident suffered by Fury while he was preparing and training for his championship match against Usyk. It is a very disappointing and unfortunate situation, but all hope is not yet lost. It has since been announced that the new rescheduled fight date is being targeted for May 18, and hopefully next time there will be no such setbacks and the undisputed showdown can go ahead as planned. The 24 year gap since Lennox Lewis last held the distinction of being the undisputed world heavyweight champion is the longest such gap in history. The previous longest gap was approximately 10 years, between Leon Spinks and Iron Mike Tyson.
This edition of Rummy’s Corner will provide some quick thoughts about the unfortunate and disappointing turn of events that resulted in the undisputed heavyweight championship showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to be postponed. Please watch and enjoy the video for one man’s opinion. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).