Following the cancellation of a planned December 23. heavyweight championship fight between WBC champion, Tyson Fury, and fellow divisional gold holder, Oleksandr Usyk, the unification showdown between the two division elites is now slated for February 17. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fury, the incumbent WBC heavyweight champion, was expected to fight Ukraine champion and fan-favorite, Usyk in an end-of-year title unification fight in the Middle East, following his professional boxing match against former UFC heavyweight gold holder and mixed martial arts star, Francis Ngannou in Riyadh last month.
Landing a close and hugely controversial split decision win over the Cameroonian knockout artist, Morecambe native, Fury, who suffered a third round knockdown against Ngannou, also was left dealing with significant swelling and lacerations following the surprising showdown.