It is finally (hopefully) happening. On May 18th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will square off against the unified IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
By the time it happens, the winner of the upcoming fight between Fury and Usyk will theoretically produce the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in more than 24 years, since the great Lennox Lewis last officially held that distinction. But what happens if the fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk ends in a draw?
Before Lennox won his rematch against Evander Holyfield in November 1999, the two had met 8 months earlier in a fight that was supposed to produce the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in more than 6 years, since Riddick Bowe had last held that distinction. That first fight between Lewis and Holyfield appeared to be a fairly one-sided affair on the whole, where Lennox made a very strong account of himself. To the surprise of almost everyone, however, the fight was officially ruled a draw. Fans had waited six-plus years for the chance to see a new undisputed world heavyweight champion, and it didn’t happen.
Fortunately that situation was resolved 8 months later when the two had their immediate rematch. But what happens if history repeats itself here? Especially in light of the fact that the IBF has already stated that, if Fury and Usyk have an immediate rematch as expected, that the winner will be stripped of the IBF title. But what if there is no winner in their first of what is expected to be at least two bouts?
What happens if the undisputed heavyweight championship bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk ends in a draw?
This edition of Rummy’s Corner will provide a quick preview of the upcoming showdown for undisputed heavyweight supremacy between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. This video will explore the implications of a draw verdict in the upcoming championship bout on May 18. Please watch and enjoy the video for one man’s opinion. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).