Tyson Fury told he must fight Usyk on December 23
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 34-0-1 (24) has been in damage control ever since defeating boxing debutant and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou 0-1 by split decision in a tough than expected fight at Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The 35-year-old Fury of England had to peel himself off the canvas in the third round to eke out a split decision win over Cameroonian Ngannou, 37, in their 10-round non-title bout by scores of 94-95, 95-94 and 96-93.
It was supposed to be an easy hit-out for Fury in what was intended as a prelude to the highly-anticipated four-belt unification bout against WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 21-0 (14) in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
But those plans are now in disarray with Team Fury backtracking on the proposed date almost as soon as the final bell rang to end the fight.
“It’s not up to me,” Fury insisted in the ring minutes after the scorecards were read.
“I’m a fighter, he’s a fighter. I’m sure we’d go now. Let’s go now if you want, but listen, these guys will sort it all out and it’ll be our next fight, guaranteed.”
The heavy lifting was done by Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren, who dismissed the mooted December date.
“I don’t think the date will be announced yet, in my opinion,” the Queensberry Promotions boss said.
“But the fight is wanted. It’s done. This man has done it here, His Excellency [Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh]. This fight is on. These guys both want it. And it’s just a matter of setting the date.
“Tyson’s got a cut there, so it’s no good saying a date once he’s got a cut on top of his head. Let’s see how that heals. But this fight is on. It’s the biggest fight in boxing, the biggest fight in boxing.
“Everybody wants to see it and they’re gonna see it here in Saudi, in Riyadh Season, where it’s gonna break all box office records. This is the biggest fight out there.”
Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, 36, was also interviewed after the fight.
“We’re back [in] this ring on 23 December,” he said. “I’m ready to fight. Thank you so much. I go sleep.”
But while Fury’s team has been busy pouring cold water on the fight, Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk is holding firm on the December 23 date, saying they want proof of injury for the fight to be postponed.
“We have a date in the contract but c’mon, we are reasonable people,” Krassyuk told SecondsOut. “If he is really injured and he is really unable to fight that might happen to any fighter.
“It has to be done in a proper way. If he is really injured then there is some kind of medical procedure that certifies his injury, then probably that’s okay.
“If it’s just they don’t want to fight Usyk because he is weak and they don’t want to take risks, then it doesn’t sound reasonable to me because you know why? What’s the difference between losing to Usyk on December 23 or losing to Usyk on January 17 or losing to Usyk, let’s say, February 13th?
“There’s no significant difference. The sooner the better.”
Krassyuk was doubling down on comments he made in an earlier interview with Sky Sports.
“Everyone, including Usyk, did not give much chance to Ngannou,” Krassyuk said. “But the man has shocked the world. Fury underestimated his opponent. Arrogance, lack of discipline and thirst for money lead to these kinds of circumstances.
“But we have December 23 inked and Fury cannot escape that.”
