TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk will repeat their undisputed classic on December 21st in the biggest fight of the 21st century.
The heavyweight pair went toe-to-toe for 12 sensational rounds in Riyadh on May 18 – for a purse of around £115m – with 37-year-old Ukrainian icon Usyk claiming a split decision victory.
Knowing that a rematch clause was already in the contract, fight fans expected a cagey contest, with the generally unlikely draw at 12-1.
But they were treated to a fight for the ages as 35-year-old Fury peppered the middle rounds with hooks until Usyk broke his nose in the eighth round and nearly left him unconscious in the ninth.
October was the intended rerun month, but the damage suffered by both and the commercial success of the first installment means the two brave warriors have seven months to make the second even more of a box office success.
Saudi boxing king Turki Alalshikh said: “The rematch between undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk and champion Tyson Fury is now scheduled for December 21, 2024, during the Riyadh season.
“The world will once again witness another historic fight.
“Our commitment to boxing fans continues. We hope you like it.
And, teasing an even more iconic night of combat, he told talkSPORT: “It will be much bigger and the tie will be much bigger.”
Former WBC champion Fury was said to have made around £85m for the original fight, with Usyk rumored to have earned close to £30m.
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Those numbers are now set to skyrocket – with the pair set to split £150m.
Usyk will control the lion’s share this time around, after adding the green and gold belts to the WBA, IBF and WBO crowns he put on the line the first time around.
And Fury promoter Frank Warren backed the idea of the desert dream becoming an even more magnificent reality.
The Queensberry boss said: “It was a fabulous fight, two absolute gladiators who left nothing in the ring in an epic fight in the most important fight of the 21st century.
“A very close fight and I think it will be even bigger next time.”
Fury’s resilience in the ninth, when he was hit all over the ring by blows from Usyk but somehow refused to be taken down by the boxing lumberjack, defied logic.
And tough guy Usyk had a dental implant impacted in his gums after one of Fury’s hard blows.
Fury rushed into the post-fight press conference full of arrogance, while Usyk needed more time to recover and speak in the room.
‘I’M BOXING BECAUSE I LOVE IT’
And fans thought the 6ft 9in Brit might prefer an all-English shootout with Anthony Joshua or a peaceful retirement rather than the rematch, for some of his quick comments.
The former champion said: “I don’t box because I don’t have money, I box because I love it.
“I’ll be 36 years old in a few months, I’ve been boxing since I was a child. Where does it all end? You have 100 fights, you have brain damage and you are in a wheelchair.
“As long as I’m loving the game, I’ll continue to do it, and when I don’t, I’ll pack my bags.”
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Usyk will surely enjoy a seven-month break rather than a quick recovery after explaining all the sacrifices he made to take down the giant.
He said: “I started camp in September 2023 and worked for nine months.
“I missed New Year’s, I missed my son’s birthday, I missed my other son’s birthday, I missed my daughter’s birthday and I missed my daughter’s birth.
“I missed all my family vacations to train. My focus was just on this fight, now I’m happy and I want to go home, go to my church and pray.”
Despite all the love for the resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr.
A big gun doesn’t always beat a big gun, not when David has the weight of a beleaguered nation on his shoulders and is able to land every countryman with every blow.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, countered and outclassed his taller, heavier opponent.
Somehow, he manages to use every physical disadvantage to his advantage.
But what the hell is Fury doing waking up in round nine?
Why does a father of eight with £300 million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series go into the deep end?
Britain is not reacting to Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the screen calls to him, when he’s so desperate not to get knocked down that he’s willing to jump through every rope like a drunk, when he eventually has to fall into a corner, Why doesn’t he just stay down?
He earned the right to surrender, as did his millions.
The guts, guts, and bloody mentality it took to walk off that deck, with a broken nose and shattered ego, is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight, but it was too worthy to call it robbery or corruption. No doubt your father will tarnish that decency when you read this.
The rematch will be excellent.
Because for all the love we have for the resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside at that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There are the first two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read the verdict on Wally’s big fight in full here…
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
