The disappointment in the world of heavyweight boxing was palpable on Friday afternoon with the seismic news that Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – for now – IS OFF.
That planned February 17 showdown in Riyadh to crown the sport’s first undisputed heavyweight king since 1999 has been postponed after Fury sustained ‘a freak cut’ in sparring on Friday morning.
Now we expect a wait of potentially four or five months per reports before the unification match will finally take place, after Fury’s cut reportedly required 15 stitches to close.
To say EVERYBODY was disappointed would be understatement but what about the man himself?
‘The Gypsy King’ would later take to social media to post a picture of himself in incredible shape, and to claim that USYK was the man in trouble ahead of that planned February 17 date.
Paris Fury on Tyson’s ‘freak cut’
It would be Tyson’s wife Paris though who provided a deeper insight into his state of mind following the devastating cut. She revealed what feelings had been like in the immediate aftermath of that unfortunate sparring accident.
Writing on Instagram Stories, she said: “My full body was shaking with nerves when he showed me this cut, cus i wasn’t there with him.
“He sounded so pissed off and disappointed but this is boxing (a dangerous sport) and these things can happen.”
When will Fury vs Usyk happen?
Now, of course, all attention turns to how long Fury will need to recover from that cut, and when the Usyk fight might eventually happen.
The smart money, or at least widespread media reports, suggest a delay or four or five months, meaning the bout would take place in June or July.
When the two men eventually do meet every single heavyweight belt that matters will be on the line. Fury is the WBC and lineal champion while Usyk holds the IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring magazine titles.