Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have a new date for their highly-anticipated fight, and pulling out will have massive repercussions for both parties.
Fury and Usyk were originally scheduled to clash in a heavyweight title unifier on Feb. 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, the booking fell through less than two weeks before fight night, as it was announced on Friday that Fury has been forced out due to a severe cut suffered in sparring.
Usyk’s camp expressed frustration upon hearing the news, even calling for Fury to be stripped off his WBC title. However, the fight has now been rebooked for May 18 in Saudi Arabia with a significant pullout clause in place. Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment of Saudi Arabia, announced that both Usyk and Fury have agreed to forfeit $10 million from their respective fight purses if they fail to show up on the rebooked date. Alalshikh also plans on having back-up fighters ready for the other party if one pulls out.
“If I think Tyson is scared, I won’t waste my time in this fight. For the 18th of May, I am guaranteeing both of the fighters a $10 million penalty if someone escapes and pulls out from the fight. This is the first thing,” Alalshikh said on "The MMA Hour.”
“The second thing, I guarantee a big fight on the same night for another one, and make the people around the world know if someone is scared or wants to escape from this fight. On the 18th of May, we will have Tyson-Usyk or Usyk-Tyson.
“If Usyk is scared, I will call for Joshua-Tyson. If Tyson is scared, I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants, and it is my name in this thing and we have a guarantee from both sides.”
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