Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk off LIVE: New date CONFIRMED for May, Fury breaks silence in Ariel Helwani interview
TYSON FURY’S big fight against Oleksandr Usyk has been given a new date for this summer.Fury suffered a cut on his eye sparring on Friday afternoon, and will not be fighting on February 17.
Mutiple sources have confirmed to SunSport that Croatian heavyweight Agron Smakici was the sparring partner who cut Fury.
And now the heavyweight pair will instead do battle in May.
Follow our live blog below…
Fury’s ready
Tyson Fury has taken to X to promote the new date for his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
He’s even had a dig at his rival – calling him a “rabbit”.
Copy linkCopiedFury and Usyk agree wager
Tyson Fury and Oleksandry Usyk have agreed to a HUGE wager if either fighter pulls out of their bout in Saudi Arabia.
Both fighters have agreed to a bizarre wager should they pull out of facing each other for good.
While announcing the new date on a YouTube broadcast, Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh claimed that any fighter who cancels will have to pay up £10MILLION.
He said: “I have delayed it for May 18, I guarantee for both of the fighters £10million if someone escapes from the fight.
“We will make the people around the world know if someone is scared.”
Copy linkCopiedFury’s got 17 days to prepare
Tyson Fury could only have 17 days to prepare for the rearranged fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
The heavyweight undisputed fight between the two has been pushed back to May 18 following Fury’s horror injury in sparring.
The boxers had been set to fight on February 17 but it was called off following the injury.
However, the new date could leave Fury with less than three weeks to get fully prepared.
This is according to Fury’s former cutman Jorge Capetillo.
He was in Fury’s corner for the fight against Otto Wallin when he suffered a cut that needed 47 stitches.
Capetillo told Betway: “I would say it will take 90 days at least to recover from a cut in sparring.
“Hopefully the fight can happen in the summer because it’s such unfortunate news.
“The cut needs to heal really good and then Tyson can get back in action, back in training and get back in camp so it will be at least a few months for sure.
“Accidents can happen in sparring, and this is what has happened with Tyson so he will need time to heal.”
Copy linkCopiedFury storms out of interview
Tyson Fury stormed out his interview after a comment was made about his wife Paris.
The Gypsy King was speaking to Ariel Helwani after withdrawing from his clash against Oleksandr Usyk due to a cut on his eye.
A new date of May 18 has been set for the highly-anticipated heavyweight bout.
An angry Fury reacted after Uysk’s manager Egis Klimas called him a “coward” for dodging the original March 18 agreement.
Fury shouted: “Never call me a coward again.
“I have had 35 professional fights in my life, I have been boxing 18 years, I’ve climbed off the canvas ten times against the biggest punchers in history to win.
“Never a coward, never backed down from any man in my life.
“If anyone calls my wife a b****, I’ll take their f****ing teeth out.”
Kilmas was mocking Fury by pointing at the camera while he was ranting.
He then bluntly responded: “I didn’t call your wife a b****.”
Copy linkCopiedFury v Usyk is back on
Thankfully, the fight has been rescheduled.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will go head-to-head in Saudi Arabia on May 18.
Read our full report.
Copy linkCopiedNew date scheduled
We have a new date for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury.
It was announced on Saturday evening that the heavyweight pair will lock horns on May 18.
That should give the Gypsy King enough time to heal from the nasty eye gash suffered during a sparring session.
Fight fans who were left disappointed by the postponement of their February 17 bout can now dream that the fight of the year is back on.
Copy linkCopiedAJ throws his hat into the ring
Anthony Joshua has thrown his hat into the ring to replace Tyson Fury, after his fight with Oleksandr Usyk was postponed.
Read Wally Downes Jr’s exclusive.
Copy linkCopiedUsyk’s promoter used Fury’s own words against him
Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk went live on Instagram to answer questions about the proponenment of the Fury vs Usyk fight.
During his 40-minute stream, Krassyuk read out an old tweet that Fury sent in 2013 after David Haye pulled out of the fight due to a cut.
Fury did not take the news well in 2013 and suggested Haye deliberately took a blow.
Krassyuk repeated the tweet which said: “The cut is genuine. Correct. You can’t box with the cut. Correct.
“Has to be cancelled. That’s why he’s cut so he can pull out. S***house.”
Copy linkCopiedUpdate on Usyk’s new opponent
Oleksandr Usyk is still eager to fight despite the postponement of his clash with Tyson Fury according to his promoter Alex Krassyuk.
In an interview with Boxing News Krassyuk is confident a fight with, Filip Hrgovic will happen after one thing has been overcome.
He said: “His people reached out saying that Filip Hrgovic is in camp, he was getting prepared for March 8.
“He’s under contract with the Saudi people and he gave an interview to ESPN saying that he’s ready to take the challenge and fight Usyk on February 17 which is good.
“The only thing to satisfy is Hrgovic’s financial demands and the fight is on.”
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Copy linkCopiedUsyk’s team looking for new opponent
Oleksandr Usyk could still fight on February 17 despite his showdown with Tyson Fury being called off.
Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk confirmed on Saturday morning during an Instagram live that he is working on finding the Ukrainian a new opponent.
And Croatian boxer Filip Hrgovic is lined up as the next challenger.
He said: “Will Usyk be fighting on the 17th? We are working on that and in the next couple of days, a final decision will be taken.
“There is only one option because the IBF has sanctioned the undisputed fight on the condition that after this fight the champion has to fight the mandatory, which is Hrgovic.
“That means if the champion fights someone else, he will be stripped of his belt by the IBF.”
Credit: epa
Copy linkCopiedHearns gives ‘devasting’ response to Fury vs Usyk
Eddie Hearn gave a “devasting” response after hearing the news that Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk had been called off.
The Essex boxing promoter said he heard the news before it was announced publically as he has two fighters in the undercard – cruiserweight Jai Opetaia and super-featherweight Joe Cordina.
Hearn told IFL TV: “I just can’t believe it really, it’s not our show but we have some fighters on the show.
“I know, I’ve been there before when this kind of thing happens 10 days out or two weeks out.
It’s just devastating for all the work that’s gone in but it’s also boxing.Eddie HearnIFL TV
“Anything is possible, but speaking just with my view, I expect it just to be rescheduled, whether it’s April, May – something like that.
Copy linkCopiedDavid Haye’s wish has come true
David Haye has revealed he wished Tyson Fury would sustain a fight-postponing cut after he trolled him for pulling out of their 2013 showdown.
Fury was relentless in his abuse of Haye and even suggested his rival deliberately got cut so he could pull out of the fight.
This has irked Haye so much that he spoke out after he heard the news of Fury suffering a nasty cut.
The Haymaker said: “I, myself, suffered a cut a week before the fight and did I not hear the end of it from him?”
“Even to this day, I still hear, ‘He only got cut because he just didn’t wanna fight him, you’re scared.’
“I actually remember, at the time, thinking, ‘One day before one of his big fights, he has to suffer this.
“‘Since he’s been that much of a d*** about it.’ And here we are.”
Copy linkCopiedNgannou reacts to Fury vs Usyk postponement
Francis Ngannou wants a shot to get all the belts right away now that Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk has been postponed.
It is understood Usyk’s camp are looking for a new opponent for February 17.
But the news has ramifications for ex-UFC champ Ngannou who is set to fight Anthony Joshua on March 8.
Reacting to the postponement of Fury vs Usyk, Ngannou tweeted a viral meme of a man standing awkwardly with his hands in his pockets and wrote: “So me and Joshua for the undisputed title March 8?”
The victor of the Fury vs Usyk bout would take on the winner of Ngannou vs Joshua later this year.
Joshua, meanwhile, has remained silent on the postponement of Fury vs Usyk.
Copy linkCopiedMan who cut Tyson Fury ‘doesn’t feel bad’
The sparring partner who cut Tyson Fury and delayed his undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk has broken his silence.
Multiple sources have confirmed to SunSport that Croatian heavyweight Agron Smakici was the sparring partner who hit Fury.
Smakici said on the incident: “It was a clear punch so I don’t feel bad.”
The 6’6 giant – who is also a mixed martial artist – was a recent addition to Fury’s team of sparring partners.
His joining the camp wasn’t a surprise given his experience sparring with top heavyweights, including Fury’s Brit rival Anthony Joshua.
Smakici was recently drafted in by Team AJ to help the former two-time unified heavyweight champion prepare for his ‘Day of Reckoning’ clash with Wallin.
Credit: Instagram @agron_smakici
Copy linkCopiedFury will need to fight to be best WBA heavyweight
Adam Catterall insists Tyon Fury will have to fight if he wants to be the best WBA heavyweight in the world.
He said on talkSPORT: “If you want to be the best heavyweight, you have to have that fight!”
“If you don’t, you leave the door open for other people to take that mantle.”
Fury suffered a nasty cut during sparring which has ruled him out of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk later this month.
The cut required significant stitching, so much so that Fury won’t be able to face Usyk until the “summer” at the earliest.
Copy linkCopiedFury was struggling in training
Fury’s blow did not come as a surprise to British boxing media the SunSport can reveal.
Rumours of Fury struggling in sparring with cruiserweight King Jai Opetaia and teenage sensation Moses Itauma were rife.
It seemed unlikely that the Gypsy King would risk upsetting Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi Spots Federation.
But now the disaster has officially hit with his horrific cut that could take atleast 90 days to recover.
Copy linkCopiedFury’s statement in full
Tyson Fury has apologised to boxing fans after suffering a horrific cut to his eye in training.
Fury said: “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition.
“I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.
“I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
He also posted on instagram, with the caption: “Can’t help getting injured in sparring but what I can say was Usyk was in trouble.
“I am in fantastic shape. I will resheduel (sic) soon as i can. 2024 a massive year for team GK #undisputed #wbcking”
Credit: QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
Copy linkCopiedFury’s former cutman reveals potential new date
Jorge Capetillo worked in Fury’s corner when the Gyspy King had to overcome a cut he received in his bout against Otto Wallin in September 2019.
Speaking to Betway, Capetillo said: “I would say it will take 90 days at least to recover from a cut in sparring.
“Hopefully, the fight can happen in the summer because it’s such unfortunate news.
“The cut needs to heal really good and then Tyson can get back in action, back in training and get back in camp so it will be at least a few months for sure.
“Accidents can happen in sparring, and this is what has happened with Tyson so he will need time to heal.
“It will now reopen during the fight if they continued into the fight so now he needs time out to make sure it doesn’t open up with a first punch from Oleksandr Usyk.”
Copy linkCopiedUsyk to still fight
Reports have suggested that Oleksandr Usyk will STILL fight on February 17 with Filip Hrgovic in the running to replace Tyson Fury.
Usyk’s team think Fury will be out for “several months”.
Credit: x
Copy linkCopiedFury out for several months
Tyson Fury could be out for months after suffering a cut during a sparring session yesterday.
A fight between Usyk and Filip Hrgovic is now reportedly being explored for February 17.
The Ukrainian’s representatives have been told that it may be “several months” until Fury is ready to compete.
Copy linkCopiedFury could retire?
Ade Oladipo has suggested that Tyson Fury could end up retiring following his injury in sparring.
The Gypsy King has pulled out of the heavyweight fight against Oleksandr Usyk after getting cut in training.
Oladipo told talkSPORT: “It wouldn’t shock me if Fury comes out and says, ‘I’ve had enough’!”
Copy linkCopiedWarren confirms rescheduling
Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that the fight against Oleksandr Usyk will be rescheduled, and new data will be announced.
He told talkSPORT: “The biggest blow is to Tyson, he had been training very hard for this fight.
“Unfortunately, he sustained a terrible cut today.
“So it is off, and I am sure a new date will be announced.”
“It was this morning, and his eye was caught by an elbow.
“I feel for Tyson and I feel for Usyk as he has also been training for the fight.”
Credit: Reuters
Copy linkCopiedWhen could the fight happen?
Fury’s bout against Usyk was set for February 17, however it has been postponed following the Gypsy King’s injury.
The Daily Star have claimed that the clash could be rearranged for as soon as June.
Copy linkCopiedBridges reacts
Ebanie Bridges has reacted to the news that Tyson Fury’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk is off.
She wrote: “Wow, Fury Usyk is off…. I mean.. are we surprised tho?
“Not very. I feel sorry for the undercard if the whole fight card is cancelled too.”
Credit: x
Copy linkCopiedLewis on Fury injury
Boxing legend Lennox Lewis has shared his thoughts on Tyson Fury’s injury and claimed that he could need three months to heal.
He wrote: “Tough break for @Tyson_Fury.
“This cut is in same area as one he got in the Wallin fight.
“He’s probably gonna need about six stitches and three months to heal. 🙏🏾😑 The saga continues…”
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