Tyson Fury has informed the relevant parties that he will take a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk – but for now he is suspended from boxing.
The Gypsy King was in control of triggering the return fight with Usyk after he lost their epic undisputed heavyweight title battle last weekend. As per the contract, the loser of the first bout would decide if they wanted the second fight.
Fury, 35, has now made it clear that is his intention after initially deliberating whether or not to press ahead with his career. The clause will be triggered.
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However, he has been handed a one-week medical suspension from boxing. Fury has laughably been told he cannot fight until this weekend by the UAE Boxing Commission, who oversaw the bout against Usyk.
Usyk took the WBC heavyweight crown from Fury last weekend to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF belts after a stunning clash in Saudi Arabia. Both men were heavily marked up after the fight and it was initially feared Usyk had suffered a broken jaw.
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While this proved unfounded, the Ukrainian fighter required four stitches on a cut over his right eye. 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 his injuries.
Usyk became the first undisputed champion in the division since Lennox Lewis back in 1999. Turki Alalshikh – the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and the the sport’s most powerful broker – has earmarked October for the rematch in Riyadh.
But they are waiting on news of Usyk’s injuries in the bout which could push it back. Usyk is in danger of being stripped of the IBF title because the mandatory defence is due with Filip Hrgovic the No 1 contender.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
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. The sanctioning body cannot call for a mandatory defence while Usyk is under an injury suspension.
Once they call the mandatory, Usyk would have 28 days to negotiate a deal. But there is hope that he could keep hold of the belt.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren previously said the second fight would be announced in due course. Speaking at the announcement of Queensbury’s Magnificent Seven card on July 20, he said: “There will be a rematch and that will be confirmed and announced in due course.
“I think it will be better than the original fight. They both know each other, they’ve shared the ring and they’ll be looking to use what they’ve gained from the fight as an advantage to beat their opponent.”