Fury and Usyk’s rematch date set with each hoping for an early Christmas current
Tyson Fury will get his shot at redemption with a Christmas date for his Oleksandr Usyk rematch.
The Gypsy King will face the undisputed heavyweight champion on December 21 in Riyadh. Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has confirmed the date for the rematch and stated it will be part of ‘Riyadh Season’.
Fury, 35, made it clear that his intention was to have the rematch after initially deliberating whether or not to press ahead with his career. The Morecambe-based boxer triggered the release clause last week, as revealed by Daily Star Sport .
READ MORE: Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn brought together by Saudi Arabia influence for unique event
READ MORE: Mike Tyson stunned Bananarama in ‘extraordinary’ meeting – he’s a massive fan
Join the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more
The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!
Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.
To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!
No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
As per the contract, the loser of the first bout would decide if they wanted the second fight. Usyk took the WBC heavyweight crown from Fury earlier this month to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF belts after a stunning clash in Saudi Arabia.
The Ukrainian became the first undisputed champion in the division since Lennox Lewis back in 1999.
What do you think of the rematch date? Let us know in the comments section
(Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Alalshikh – the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and the the sport’s most powerful broker – had earmarked October for the rematch in Riyadh.
But with the bout being such a tough battle for both, they’ve been given extra recovery time to get ready. The Ukrainian had an issue with his jaw in the bout but was given the all clear by medics afterwards.
However, he was provisionally suspended by the UAE Boxing Commission – who oversaw the main event in Saudi and not the British Boxing Board of Control – due to injuries.
(Image: YouTube/Sky Sports News)
Fury was also given a seven-day suspension because of his injuries. Usyk is in danger of being stripped of the IBF title because the mandatory defence is due with Filip Hrgovic the No 1 contender.
But now Fury has taken the rematch, he won’t be able to face the IBF’s challenger. It is understood a letter has been sent to the IBF on the matter and they are hoping they can convince the sanctioning body to hold off on stripping Usyk.
Once they call the mandatory, Usyk would have 28 days to negotiate a deal.
