The highly anticipated heavyweight title unifier between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has a new date.
During a special breaking news edition of The MMA Hour, Saudi Arabia royal adviser – and Fury vs. Usyk promoter – Turki Alalshikh announced the fight will now take place on May 18. As an incentive, Alalshikh said if either fighter withdraws from the date, they will forfeit $10 million of their purse for the fight.
“If Usyk is scared, I will call for [Anthony] Joshua vs. Tyson,” Alalshikh said. “If Tyson is scared, I will call for any fighter Usyk wants, and it’s my name on this thing. We have a guarantee from both sides, and they know it now.”
Both Fury and Usyk appeared on the special show and agreed to the new date.
The fight’s location remains the same, with Fury and Usyk set to clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh said the Feb. 17 event planned to host the heavyweight fight will not take place.
The bout will crown the undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, while Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) holds the WBC title.
The fight originally was scheduled for Feb. 17, but Fury suffered a bad cut in training and was forced to withdraw. Video released after the news appeared to show Fury cut by an elbow while sparring in the ring.
“Nothing much anyone can do about a cut in sparring – s*** happens,” Fury said on Saturday of his injury, which he added required 11 stitches to close at a hospital. “I’ve never had one before – first time for everything.”
Alalshikh added he has a “special camera” in Fury’s camp to observe his training and verified the champ’s injury. Usyk said he “just smiled” at the news and continued to train. Usy’s manager, Eglis Klimas, wasn’t so convinced.
“Maybe when you want to get cut, you’re going to get cut.” Klimas said. “Because he didn’t want to fight with Usyk. He’s scared.”
“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life, and put 10 weeks into a training camp,” Fury fired back. “Why? Why would I not want to fight?”
“That’s why you didn’t want to fight him last time,” replied Klimas.
“[Usyk] pulled out last time,” Fury spat. “You’re a piece of s*** who’s never had a fight in his life, and you’re calling me a coward, you rat bastard.”
Early on, there was talk that Usyk could remain on the Feb. 17 card and face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic. But Saudi Arabia royal adviser Turki Alalshikh later announced Fury vs. Usyk “will be rescheduled at a later date and tickets will be refunded to the public.” Alalshikh on Saturday said Hrgovic will have an opportunity to fight on the March 8 fight card.
Fury’s previous opponent, former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou, quickly reacted to the news by proposing his March 8 fight with Anthony Joshua be for the unified title.
Additionally, Alalshikh announced that a light heavyweight title unifier between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will take place on June 1 in Riyadh.
This story originally appeared on MMA fighting