Oleksandr Usyk confirms the dates he wants to fight Tyson Fury on after agreeing to push back their super-fight from December 23 following Gypsy King’s injury in Francis Ngannou victory
- The Ukrainian is keen to meet Fury after nearly a year’s worth of negotiations
- But the Gypsy King will need more recovery after the challenge of Ngannou
- Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight details out THIS WEEK: Listen to The Hook
Oleksandr Usyk is hopeful that his much-anticipated fight with Tyson Fury will take place in February 2024, according to a new interview with the Ukrainian.
The heavyweight champion was set to fight the Gypsy King on December 23, but the bout’s timeline has been forced to shift somewhat following Fury’s shock clash with Francis Ngannou.
Far from the walkover some fans might have expected, the MMA star took the lineal heavyweight champion to all 10 rounds, even knocking Fury to the canvas during the early stages of the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ in Saudi Arabia.
Whilst Fury was awarded the win via split decision, he was left with a black eye and cut forehead after the nervy clash, and will be taking more time to recover before his winner-takes-all contest with Usyk.
But the 36-year-old – who was ringside in Riyadh and faced off with his future opponent after the bell – was relaxed about a potential delay as he completed his training camp in Valencia.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Fury are likely to meet in February 2024 after their December clash was delayed
The Gypsy King beat Francis Ngannou by split decision but will need a longer recovery period before facing the Ukrainian
The 36-year-old was ringside in Riyadh for the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ and is currently in camp in Valencia
‘I was ready to fight on the 23rd but since Fury got some injuries in the last fight, a knockdown, then probably it will be postponed to next year,’ Usyk told Reuters.
He added that he would ‘very much like’ the fight to take place in February.
‘I’ll just do more technical work,’ Usyk continued. ‘Technically, nothing changes. I just have a little more time for some additional tasks, and that’s it.
‘I don’t think about Fury at all – I think about myself, about my team, about my family. I don’t need to think about my opponent. I just need to be with him, fight and that’s it.
‘Everything I do today – my achievements, my victories, my efforts are focused to honour my country and my family,’ he added.
Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Mail Sport’s The Hook podcast that there would be an announcement of the date of their fight this week.
Krassyuk then shared that the camp were happy to give Fury extra time to prepare to face off with the Ukrainian in a bid to give fans the best possible spectacle.
‘It depends on how he gonna spend this time,’ Krassyuk said. ‘If it brings him to a better shape and better spirit, then definitely yes.
Usyk last bested Daniel Dubois in Poland to maintain his unbeaten heavyweight record at 21-0
‘But we remember Tyson after he defeated (Wladimir) Klitschko and was supposed to fight in the rematch, he spent his time, let’s say, not in the best manner.’
Ngannou, who is keen to bide his time and wait for a potential rematch with Fury after he faces Usyk, admitted that he was disappointed with the damage he did to his rival last month – as it delays their second meeting.
‘I know that (Fury and Usyk) are going to fight, they had a contract already, so they are going to fight sometime in February instead of December 23, which is my fault,’ Ngannou said.
‘I shouldn’t have cut him. He would’ve fought December 23, and maybe we would’ve run it back early next year.’
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