Boxing

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. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to rematchCredit: PAAnd 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. READ MORE IN BOXINGBut 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. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSo 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.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut 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. Anthony Joshua was in Saudi to watch Fury vs UsykCredit: PA More

DEONTAY WILDER has spoken out ahead of arch rival Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. Fury was dethroned of the WBC title he won from Wilder in 2020 following a split-decision defeat to Usyk in Saudi Arabia. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to rematchCredit: GettyThe beaten Gypsy King survived a brutal ninth-round onslaught after being held up by the ropes.And after the first loss of his professional career, Fury has invoked his right to an immediate rematch which is eyed for November or December. Wilder – who lost twice and drew with Fury as part of an epic trilogy – was probed on the fight and Usyk’s near-stoppage victory. He said: “I thought it was a great fight. I was on the fence of things, I didn’t know who was going to win.READ MORE IN BOXING”I always think it’s what dog brings what bite to the fight and Oleksandr’s bite was bigger than his.”I think he [Usyk] got robbed in the ninth round of a knockout for sure, gifts were given.”The rematch, who knows, it’s all about what person brings what dog to the fight.”Many times we have good days and we have bad days, you just never know.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFor all the love for resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr
A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.
He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour.
But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine?
Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?
Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down?
He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.
The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this.
The rematch will be superb.
Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read Wally’s big fight verdict in full here…

“If I had to pick I would say Usyk but let’s see what happens.”Wilder, 38, returns in Saudi against Zhilei Zhang, 41, representing Eddie Hearn in the series of 5v5 bouts against Frank Warren’s pick. The American has not fought since his December points loss to Joseph Parker, 32, which saw a £100million deal with Anthony Joshua, 34, axed. And Wilder admitted it is a make-or-break bout that could even be the final of his boxing career. He said: “I like Zhang, I like his fighting style, I like his big head, it’s going to be a big target to hit, it’s an easy target to hit.”This is like a be all and end all opportunity for us, and when it’s like that you get the best of both fighters.”This could be the end of my career, this could be the end of his career, it’s going to be exciting on Saturday night to see what happens.”Deontay Wilder ahead of his boxing returnCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY’S uncle has slammed the corner and the tactics in defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. For the first time, Fury brought his dad into training camp in an official capacity before the historic undisputed title decider.Tyson Fury’s uncle has slammed his corner and tactics following defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: ReutersPeter Fury with nephew Tyson in 2015Credit: ReutersJohn was also the third member of Fury’s crowded corner, joining head coach SugarHill Steward and assistant, ex-world champion Andy Lee.And damning footage in the aftermath of the fight revealed John barking orders by shouting over lead voice SugarHill.Fury has chopped and changed coaches over the years, going from uncle Peter to upstart Ben Davison and now SugarHill, nephew to the legendary Emanuel.And Peter – who led his nephew to an iconic upset over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 – said SugarHill was drowned out in the corner.READ MORE IN BOXINGBut he also insisted Fury – beaten by split-decision – failed to use his TWO STONE weight advantage against the smaller Usyk. He told October Red: “There should only be one man in the corner, there shouldn’t be three or four. “Some are too emotional in the corner and some are giving the wrong advice. “I think the only one that spoke a little bit of sense in the last dying stretch of it was SugarHill, who said ‘put it on him’.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFor all the love for resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr
A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.
He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour.
But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine?
Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?
Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down?
He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.
The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this.
The rematch will be superb.
Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read Wally’s big fight verdict in full here…

“When you go into fights, it doesn’t matter who it is, it could be a family member, but you’ve got to give precise clear information, and the thing I always say to the fighter is, ‘Are you listening, do you understand what I’ve just told you to do?’“There were too many people, but maybe Tyson wants that? I don’t know, it’s been years since dealing with me.EXCLUSIVE: John Fury left BLEEDING after crazy altercation with Oleksandr Usyk’s team ahead of Fury vs Usyk”I don’t know what the situation is but clearly for me the game plan was wrong and only one should be speaking. “How can you listen to all that? It’s going a bit panicky and it’s all over the place.“I’ve always said I can’t be bought in boxing. If someone is talking in the corner, I’d say shut your f***ing mouth now or get out the back. It’s happened before.“I’m not having anything go on in that corner. You’re the bucket man, you wash the gumshield out, you wipe his head down, do not speak. “That’s their instruction, and if they speak, when they get back to the dressing room, sacked on the spot. You’ve got to have a professional corner.”Former world champion Carl Froch was among those urging the dethroned Gypsy King to ditch his dad John for the proposed rematch.It comes after Fury, 35, invoked his right to an immediate rematch with Usyk, 37, which is being eyed for November or December back in Saudi.Usyk and Fury are headed towards a rematch this yearCredit: PA More