5/18/24 ESPN+/DAZN PPV - "Ring of Fire" Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (Undisputed Heavyweight Championship)
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Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk Undisputed Heavyweight Championship Rescheduled For May 18
BY JAKE DONOVAN
Published Sat Feb 03, 2024, 03:10 PM EST
The first undisputed heavyweight championship clash of the 21st century is already back in play.
Barely 24 hours after news of a forced postponement, the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk full unification bout is now rescheduled for May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The date was confirmed by Turki Alalashikh, chairman of General Authority and Entertainment in Saudi Arabia, who also added a trap-door clause in the event of another fallout.
“We delayed it for the 18th of May,” Alalshikh confirmed Saturday afternoon during an interview with The MMA Hour, with Fury seated next to him. “I guaranteed to both fighters ten million (dollars) if someone escapes from the fight. This is the first thing. The second thing is, I guarantee a big fight for the other one on that same night.”
The lineal, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight championship was previously due to take place on February 17 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. England’s Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs) was forced to squash those plans after a cut suffered during a recent sparring session, for which he required stiches.
Ukraine’s Usyk (21-0, 14KOs) and his team were understandably irritated by the development. Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s career-long promoter, even declared during an Instagram Live story that the WBC should downgrade Fury to ‘Champion in Recess’ and allow Usyk to face a high-ranking opponent with all the belts on the line.
Event handlers briefly explored the possibility of a replacement challenger for Usyk. IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14KOs) rapidly emerged as the leading candidate before the decision was made to cancel the February 17 ‘Ring of Fire’ show altogether.
Fury has held recognition as the lineal and WBC champion since a February 2020 seventh-round stoppage of then-unbeaten and long-reigning titlist Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42KOs) in Las Vegas. He has made three successful defenses of the crown but none since a December 2022 tenth-round stoppage of countryman Derek Chisora in a meaningless trilogy clash.
His lone fight since then was a narrow points win over former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who made his pro debut in their clash last October 28 to kick off ‘Riyadh Season.’ Fury was dropped in the third round but rallied to escape with a split decision victory in their non-title fight.
Usyk became a two-division champ when he dethroned two-time unified WBA, IBF and WBO titlist Anthony Joshua in their September 2021 meeting in North London. Two successful defenses have followed—a repeat win over Watfords’ Joshua (27-3, 24KOs) in their August 2022 rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and a ninth-round knockout of London’s Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19KOs) last August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Fury-Usyk will represent the first attempt to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion since November 1999, when Lennox Lewis outpointed Evander Holyfield in their entertaining rematch. Lewis was forced to settle for a highly questionable draw in their March 1999 meeting that raised industry-wide outrage and led some officials to call for an investigation into the sport.
There now appears daylight to end that 25-year drought, just one day after yet the latest divisional letdown.
“Make the people and fans around the world know if someone is scared or wants to escape from this fight,” pleaded Alalshikh. “Eighteen of May, we will have Tyson-Usyk, Usyk-Tyson. If someone (is) scared, if Usyk is scared, I will call for Joshua-Tyson. If Tyson’s scared, I will call for any fighters Usyk wants.
“It is my name on this thing. We have availability from both sides.”
O³ (O cubed)
No more PAWGs, PLEASE??!!!??
Watching the MMA Hour. Tyson looks like he is being held hostage.
I think that he's gonna weasel his way out. He's gonna drive through the desert and leave via the UAE.
Oh and Tank gets a stray from Turki.
I think that he's gonna weasel his way out. He's gonna drive through the desert and leave via the UAE.
Oh and Tank gets a stray from Turki.
Diunx
Probably drunk
Turki is out of control, can't imagine what this crazy fukk have them ring girls doWatching the MMA Hour. Tyson looks like he is being held hostage.
I think that he's gonna weasel his way out. He's gonna drive through the desert and leave via the UAE.
Oh and Tank gets a stray from Turki.
Suspicious Dingo
Superstar
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk Undisputed Heavyweight Championship Rescheduled For May 18
BY JAKE DONOVAN
Published Sat Feb 03, 2024, 03:10 PM EST
The first undisputed heavyweight championship clash of the 21st century is already back in play.
Barely 24 hours after news of a forced postponement, the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk full unification bout is now rescheduled for May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The date was confirmed by Turki Alalashikh, chairman of General Authority and Entertainment in Saudi Arabia, who also added a trap-door clause in the event of another fallout.
“We delayed it for the 18th of May,” Alalshikh confirmed Saturday afternoon during an interview with The MMA Hour, with Fury seated next to him. “I guaranteed to both fighters ten million (dollars) if someone escapes from the fight. This is the first thing. The second thing is, I guarantee a big fight for the other one on that same night.”
The lineal, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight championship was previously due to take place on February 17 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. England’s Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs) was forced to squash those plans after a cut suffered during a recent sparring session, for which he required stiches.
Ukraine’s Usyk (21-0, 14KOs) and his team were understandably irritated by the development. Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s career-long promoter, even declared during an Instagram Live story that the WBC should downgrade Fury to ‘Champion in Recess’ and allow Usyk to face a high-ranking opponent with all the belts on the line.
Event handlers briefly explored the possibility of a replacement challenger for Usyk. IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14KOs) rapidly emerged as the leading candidate before the decision was made to cancel the February 17 ‘Ring of Fire’ show altogether.
Fury has held recognition as the lineal and WBC champion since a February 2020 seventh-round stoppage of then-unbeaten and long-reigning titlist Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42KOs) in Las Vegas. He has made three successful defenses of the crown but none since a December 2022 tenth-round stoppage of countryman Derek Chisora in a meaningless trilogy clash.
His lone fight since then was a narrow points win over former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who made his pro debut in their clash last October 28 to kick off ‘Riyadh Season.’ Fury was dropped in the third round but rallied to escape with a split decision victory in their non-title fight.
Usyk became a two-division champ when he dethroned two-time unified WBA, IBF and WBO titlist Anthony Joshua in their September 2021 meeting in North London. Two successful defenses have followed—a repeat win over Watfords’ Joshua (27-3, 24KOs) in their August 2022 rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and a ninth-round knockout of London’s Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19KOs) last August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Fury-Usyk will represent the first attempt to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion since November 1999, when Lennox Lewis outpointed Evander Holyfield in their entertaining rematch. Lewis was forced to settle for a highly questionable draw in their March 1999 meeting that raised industry-wide outrage and led some officials to call for an investigation into the sport.
There now appears daylight to end that 25-year drought, just one day after yet the latest divisional letdown.
“Make the people and fans around the world know if someone is scared or wants to escape from this fight,” pleaded Alalshikh. “Eighteen of May, we will have Tyson-Usyk, Usyk-Tyson. If someone (is) scared, if Usyk is scared, I will call for Joshua-Tyson. If Tyson’s scared, I will call for any fighters Usyk wants.
“It is my name on this thing. We have availability from both sides.”
Greedy Belly running out of excuses - he might have to fake his own death on this one
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We got our new age Vince McMahon to replace the old Vince McMahon. Imagine the shyt he can get away with since he is the law.Turki is out of control, can't imagine what this crazy fukk have them ring girls do
Watching the MMA Hour. Tyson looks like he is being held hostage.
I think that he's gonna weasel his way out. He's gonna drive through the desert and leave via the UAE.
Oh and Tank gets a stray from Turki.
said only thing he sending tank is two gloves
Now it's scheduled for May! Piss taking nonces.
His Excellency added a new forfeit clause to the contract for May date. To anybody pulls out will forfeit 10 million UK pound sterling, this will go to the inner city kids/youth charity in London urban areas & the Prince's youth Trust in the UK.
One thing I give them is they’re family oriented and love fighting/combat sports.
Other than that… avoid us much as possible
Iceson Beckford
Rich In Spirit.
