TYSON FURY faces a wait to rematch Oleksandr Usyk as the new Christmas cracker date has been revealed.
The heavyweight superstars put on a 12-round classic in Saudi Arabia on May 18 with Usyk crowned a historic undisputed champion.
And beaten Fury was armed with the right to run it back per a stipulation in the original contract.
Not long after losing for the first time in his 36-bout career, Fury’s handlers announced his intention to invoke his rematch clause.
A rerun was always eyed for October – until the pair hellaciously went blow-for-blow for 36 magnificent minutes.
As a result, fans must wait until the winter to see it all over again.
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But Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh spoke out to reveal the rematch is now set for December 21 in an early Christmas treat to fans.
He posted online: “The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season
“The world will watch another historical fight again…Our commitment to boxing fans continues…We hope you enjoy it..”
The two were first meant to meet on February 17 but Fury was forced out following a horror cut sustained in sparring just two weeks out.
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So by the time the rescheduled date came around both had been training to fight one another for over HALF A YEAR.
But when they did finally share the ring, it was well worth the wait.
Usyk, 37, became the first heavyweight champion in history to reign as a four-belt undisputed king.
Meanwhile Fury, 35, surrendered the WBC belt after losing the split-decision.
Usyk was handed a two-week medical suspension after being left black and blue from the bout.
But Fury – deemed desperately fortunate not to be stopped in round nine – was only officially banned for seven days.
The dethroned Gypsy King has since returned to enjoy family time with his wife Paris and seven children.
Usyk has kept a low profile since victory but was given a hero’s welcome upon arrival back in Ukraine.
There had been fears the two-division undisputed champ would not keep hold of the IBF title.
He is contracted to face Fury again but also faces pressure to fight mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic, 31.
Hrgovic takes on Daniel Dubois, 26, in Saudi in what was expected to be for the vacant strap or at least an interim version.
But with Usyk under suspension, he cannot be stripped of the belt.
It has led to hope that Fury WILL get the chance to not only challenge for his old WBC belt but all three others along with it.
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But Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes Usyk will have to vacate the title.
Joshua, 34, is due to return at Wembley in September and hopes to challenge for the IBF gold which he first won back in 2016.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
