The much-anticipated clash for the undisputed heavyweight title between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is on the verge of becoming a reality.
In his recent bout, the reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury faced off against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The two competed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 28, 2023.
This match marked Francis Ngannou’s debut in the world of boxing. Despite being a newcomer to the sport, Ngannou managed to score a knockdown against Fury. This was the only knockdown by either competitor in their intense 10-round showdown.
Although he showed resilience, Ngannou ultimately lost the closely contested match through a split decision. Many argue that the judges should have awarded him the victory, as he delivered the more powerful punches and even managed to drop Fury.
Prior to the Fury-Ngannou bout, Fury had already signed a contract to face unified WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. This anticipated matchup was set to determine boxing’s new undisputed heavyweight champion. It was initially scheduled for either December 23, 2023 or January 2024.
But with Fury’s bout against Ngannou and the unexpected knockdown he suffered, the Fury-Usyk boxing match now faces a potential postponement. The consensus is that if Fury were to lose or sustain an injury against Ngannou, it could jeopardize the much-anticipated showdown with Usyk.
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, the showdown for the undisputed heavyweight title between Fury and Usyk is now set to take place in February 2024. It will happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In the aftermath of his narrow victory over the boxing debutant Francis Ngannou, Tyson Fury has faced severe backlash within the combat sports community. Many expected him to dominate the match, but Fury narrowly escaped defeat and secured a controversial win on the judges’ scorecards.
As a result, many argue that Francis Ngannou’s presence and performance cast a shadow over the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk showdown.
Oleksandr Usyk recently took to social media, posting a video where he taunted Fury for his performance against Ngannou. In response, Fury fired back with his own post and warned Usyk that he was the next target.
Fury wrote: “You’re getting it next.”
As for Francis Ngannou, he has expressed interest in a rematch against Tyson Fury. Additionally, there are rumors circulating that Ngannou may face Deontay Wilder in a boxing match, an MMA bout, or even a mixed-rules matchup.
Meanwhile, an official announcement regarding the date of the undisputed title match between the undefeated champions Fury and Usyk is expected in the days to come.