The scheduled clash for the undisputed heavyweight world championship between Tyson Fury (34-0-1, 24 KO) and Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KO) on February 17th has been delayed. The reason for this postponement stems from a significant cut to Tyson Fury’s eyebrow, sustained during one of his sparring sessions. To validate this information, his promoters released a photograph showcasing the boxer’s injury.
Biggest Heavyweight Boxing Fight of the Decade Postponed
Enthusiasts of the sport eagerly awaited the showdown that would determine the undisputed heavyweight champion. The last time such an event occurred was a quarter of a century ago when Lennox Lewis triumphed over Evander Holyfield. Nevertheless, their anticipation will be extended as the historic duel between WBC world champion Fury and IBF, WBA, and WBO champion Usyk has been rescheduled. The “Gypsy King” suffered an injury in sparring, a deep cut above his right eye requiring multiple stitches, leading to the bout’s cancellation against Oleksandr Usyk in February.
Among Fury’s sparring partners were Moses Itauma, Kevin Lerena, and Jai Opetaia, with the latter leaving the training camp after just five rounds with Fury. Speculation circulated that the Australian had knocked down the heavyweight world champion, though Opetaia officially denied such claims.
Queensberry Promotions confirmed the news of the fight’s postponement through a statement on social media. As proof, the promoters shared an image of Fury’s injured state. This development introduces another twist to the ongoing saga surrounding a bout that has been in discussion for over a year.
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Recap:
The fight against Usyk was scheduled to be Fury’s return to Riyadh. The Brit is familiar with the venue as it hosted his fight against a unique opponent in a crossover bout.
In his most recent bout on November 28, 2023, Fury went the 10-round distance with Francis Ngannou, although Fury’s heavyweight title was not at stake. The fact that an inexperienced boxer like Ngannou endured 10 rounds with the undefeated world heavyweight champion was surprising in itself.
Ngannou not only managed to go the distance with Fury but also came close to pulling off an upset early Sunday morning in Saudi Arabia. Juan Carlos Pelayo of Mexico scored the fight 96-93 for Fury, and Alan Krebs of the United States gave him a 95-94 victory, while Ed Garner of Canada awarded the fight to Ngannou at 95-94. In many fans’ eyes, Ngannou was the true winner of the bout. Especially if you consider Fury’s stoic in-ring attitude toward his opponent.
Fury maintained his undefeated record at 34-0-1 with 24 knockouts. Although Ngannou, with a UFC record of 17-3, knocked Fury down in the third round, it turned out to be a missed opportunity for a significant upset. During the tenth outing, the audience gathered at Boulevard Hall in Riyadh started to chant Ngannou’s name.
The fact the fight went the distance was an upset in itself. But that’s not all, as Francis Ngannou was placed tenth in the WBC heavyweight rankings. This shocked many boxing fans and personalities as the former UFC title holder just had his professional boxing debut and came short against Fury.
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