WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 34-0-1 (24) has been urged to retire after withdrawing from his February 17 bout against WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk 21-0 (14) in Saudi Arabia.
The 35-year-old Brit suffered a nasty cut over his right eye courtesy of an unintentional elbow from a sparring partner, reportedly Croatian southpaw Agron Smakici 20-2 (18).
Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren hinted as much to talkSPORT after video of the incident is began circulating online, saying that the incident happened on Friday morning “in sparring with a Croatian heavyweight who caught his eye with his elbow”.
Usyk’s team have been quick to respond to the fight cancelation, with the 37-year-old Ukrainian southpaw’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk offering some free advice: “Wish you soonest recovery. God sent you a sign. Think of retirement, brother.”
News of the fight postponement will come as a blow to fight fans, who have long clamoured for a bout between the two best big men on the planet. Previous negotiations to match the pair fell through due to financial demands before the Saudis stepped in with an open cheque book to make the fight a reality.
Or so it seemed.
Fury will likely be sidelined for months as the wound heals. The Usyk bout will still be there for him when he returns, but considering how difficult it was to get the fight signed in the first place, no one will be holding their breath.
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas told Sky Sports that Fury “will do anything to not face Usyk”, adding that perhaps “he was hit by a frying pan which he asked for”.
Fury has chalked up the injury to bad luck.
“Can’t help getting injured in sparring but what I can say [is] Usyk was in trouble,” Fury posted to Instagram. “I am in fantastic shape. I will reschedule soon as I can. 2024 a massive year for team GK.”
With just two weeks to go until fight night, a replacement opponent is being sought for Usyk. Topping the list is IBF mandatory contender Filip ‘El Animal’ Hrgovic 17-0 (14). The undefeated 31-year Croatian hard man says he is ready to go.
“Now that Fury has gotten injured, I’m ready to step in and fight Usyk,” Hrgovic said. “Let’s go Usyk, you owe me my mandatory shot. It’s time to finally face me.”
But Kilmas says it is still too early to say whether Usyk will box on the February 17 date or wait for the Fury bout to be rescheduled.
“It’s very hot at the moment, we just got this straight from the oven,” Klimas said.
The cut is in approximately the same position as the severe lacerations Fury suffered in his bout against Otto Wallin nine years ago that required 47 stitches to repair. His team insists they will reschedule the bout.
“Whilst this is still breaking news it is clearly a massive disappointment, after the work that has been done by so many people to finally deliver this historic event to the world,” Queenberry Promotions said in a statement.
“Once the doctors have appraised Tyson’s eye, we will have a better idea of the period of recovery needed.
“Once known, we will work diligently with all the stakeholders and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reschedule this fight as soon as possible and will of course keep everyone updated with developments.”
