Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk Rematch New Date Officially Announced

Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk Rematch New Date Officially Announced
Kerr Ferguson

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury battled it out in the first undisputed heavyweight championship fight for 25 years, with the Ukrainian coming out on top of a thriller.

Usyk banked early rounds before the Brit found his rythym and distance, utilising a heavy looping uppercut that found its way passed the guard of Usyk and seemed to turn the tide.

It was then, as the fight entered its second half, there was a glimpse of Usyk – who had formerly been undisputed at cruiserweight – being somewhat out of ideas. Then, in the eighth, he bloodied the nose of Fury with pinpoint accuracy.

The ninth further swung in his favour when he battered the Brit around the ring like no man has before. That eventual knockdown proved crucial on the cards, which were announced as 115-112 and 114-113 to Usyk and 114-113 to Fury.

In the days following, Fury confirmed through his promoter Frank Warren that he ‘badly wanted’ the rematch and officially activated his contractual clause to get it.

Despite originally being slated for October, the man behind boxing in Saudi Arabia, Turki Alalshikh, has now announced that it is being planned for December 21 in the familiar location of Riyadh.

Whether or not all four belts will be on the line for a second time remains to be seen. The IBF had allowed the first fight to go ahead on the condition that the winner either face its mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic, or vacate the belt.

That once staunch decision has been dialled back since the fight, and it’s understood Usyk’s team have submitted a request to keep a hold of the title, much to Hrgovic’s distaste.

More stories