Tyson Fury’s bout with Oleksandr Usyk is postponed to May 18 due to a cut on the British boxer’s face

The highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight unification bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled for May 18. The initial date of February 17 was canceled due to a sparring incident where Fury suffered an accidental cut to his right eye, leaving the British boxer “devastated.”

The bout, set to take place in Saudi Arabia and billed as the ‘Ring of Fire,’ brings together WBC champion Fury and WBA, IBF, and WBO belt holder Usyk. The rescheduling was announced during a dual-cast appearance by Fury, Usyk, and Saudi Arabian minister Turki Alalshikh on the American sports show The MMA Hour With Ariel Helwani.

Minister Alalshikh, acting as an arbiter, discussed the new fight date and revealed additional incentives. He guaranteed both fighters a purse of $10 million if either chose to withdraw from the bout. Alalshikh further stated, “If Usyk is scared, I will call for Joshua vs Tyson. If Tyson is scared, I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants.” The minister emphasized that this guarantee applies to both fighters, and the answer regarding any concerns about cowardice will be determined on May 18.

Fury shared details of the unfortunate incident, explaining that during a morning sparring session where he had arranged to spar 12 rounds with four different opponents, he received an elbow to the eye in the fifth round. The injury required 11 stitches, and Fury expressed his disappointment, having spent five weeks in Saudi Arabia for training, with everything going exceptionally well until the unexpected cut.

In response to the unforeseen setback, the rescheduled bout promises to be a significant event, and the Saudi Arabian minister’s assurances aim to address any concerns regarding the fighters’ commitment. The ‘Ring of Fire’ is expected to captivate fans and provide answers to questions surrounding the undisputed heavyweight 24hscore showdown.

The significant injury that led to the rescheduling of the highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight unification bout was a gash above Fury’s right eye. The injury occurred during a sparring session with Croatian partner Agron Smakici, where an accidental elbow caused the cut. In an effort to address circulating conspiracy theories from Usyk’s team suggesting Fury was avoiding the fight, Saudi Arabian minister Turki Alalshikh insisted on the absolute truth of the injury. Fury, during a broadcast appearance, displayed his stitched eye to the cameras, further substantiating the severity of the injury.

The rescheduled fight, set for May 18 in Saudi Arabia, aims to unify four heavyweight titles and is considered the definitive contest in the current heavyweight era. Both Fury and Usyk boast undefeated records, with Fury holding the WBC belt since 2020 when he defeated Deontay Wilder. Prior to that, Fury had secured the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts in 2015 by defeating the then-lineal champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, made a seamless transition to the heavyweight division and has held the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles since his victory against Anthony Joshua in 2021. Notably, he successfully defended these titles against Joshua in Saudi Arabia and later against Daniel Dubois in Poland during the summer of the previous year.

The significance of the Fury-Usyk bout lies not only in its potential to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion but also in marking a historical moment in boxing. The last time the sport witnessed a unified and undisputed heavyweight champion was in November 1999 when Lennox Lewis held all four titles after defeating Evander Holyfield.

As the eagerly awaited contest approaches, the injury to Fury’s eye adds an unexpected layer of drama, contributing to the overall narrative of the bout. The involvement of the Saudi Arabian minister, Turki Alalshikh, serves to assure fans and stakeholders of the authenticity of the injury and the genuine reasons for the rescheduling. The ‘Ring of Fire’ event is not merely a clash of champions but a culmination of the heavyweight division’s narrative, with both fighters seeking to etch their names in boxing history.