TYSON FURY’S £150m undisputed decider with Oleksandr on December 23 is OFF and could be pushed back until FEBRUARY.
Saturday night’s showdown in Saudi Arabia with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was meant to be little more than a sweetener to charm the sheikhs into raising their Christmas cash.
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Tyson Fury is expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk nextCredit: Getty
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The Ukrainian was at ringside as Gypsy King fought Francis Ngannou.Credit: Getty
But the 35-year-old WBC champion stunk up the 23,000-seat Kingdom Arena, was knocked out in the third round – by a professional boxing debutant – and was saved by two magnanimous judges who awarded him a split decision.
Poor old Usyk, 36, sat ringside and watched his dream fight go up in smoke, his head in his hands as his opponent not only fumbled with the bag, but accidentally slammed his finger into a sand dune.
Licking his lips Ukrainian WBA, IBF and WBO purr after watching Fury’s failure: “I want to fight Tyson Fury on December 23, I’m ready.”
But Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has confirmed his Halloween romp is now likely to push the four-belt showdown well past Crimbo and towards a bloody Valentine’s Day date.
Hall of Fame promoter Queensberry said: “It’s too early to talk about what Tyson is doing now, but the fight against Usyk has been signed.
“It will take place but it won’t be on the 23rd. It was crazy that some people suggested that it might still take place on the 23rd.
“He’s 35 years old and he’s just done a 12-week training camp and he’s just been in a tough fight.
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Frank Warren offered an update on Fury’s forced fight with UsykCredit: Getty
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Francis Ngannou defeated Tyson Fury in the third round Credit: Getty
“He needs a vacation with his family, he needs to switch off, and we will announce the date when we are ready. But the fight is signed. The fight will happen.
“It will happen at the beginning of the new year, at the end of January or February. It will depend on Tyson, it’s his body.
“He’s not smashed to pieces at all, but he needs a rest.”
Like half Boxing King MediaUsyk responded shortly after Warren’s comments: “Uncle Frank says some mean things.
“We have a contract that says the fight has to take place on December 23rd… Let Fury vacate his title first and then he can rest… Tyson – we have to fight, we have to do it, December 23rd. See you in the ring. I love you.”
Everyone in the boxing business expected the 6ft 9in English boxer from his childhood days to play with Ngannou, a Cameroonian Cinderella story who never saw a professional gym until he was 22.
The Morecambe showman claimed he couldn’t lose even if Ngannou had a machete and a gun in his hands instead of 10oz gloves.
But the 37-year-old – who had to be smuggled into Europe illegally a decade ago and endured hospital and prison stints as part of his journey across the Sahara – was brilliant from the opener to his dignified speech in defeat.
And Warren reckons he’s seen it – to an extent.
“Ngannou was a lot better than people expected,” he said. “He can box.
“As soon as he got better, I thought ‘damn, this kid can box’.
“People have been saying that Ngannou is some kind of nerd, a fucking computer nerd, who fights as a joke.
“But he’s a real fighter whose background is from Africa, tough ass to the end.
“I didn’t think he’d be able to adapt to top boxing at 37, but I was wrong, because he’s bloody well done, hasn’t he.”
The fight statistics show that Fury landed more punches overall and in most rounds
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Source: HIS Education