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Date set for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in heavyweight unification bout
Published 13:15 22 Aug 2022 BST
Updated 13:37 22 Aug 2022 BST
Homesport
The fight package would reportedly be worth £150m
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to meet in a blockbuster heavyweight unification bout in Saudi Arabia on December 17, according to reports. On Saturday night, Usyk retained his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO titles against Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. He then said that the only person he would fight would be tempted to fight next would be Fury. Following the fight, Fury took to social media and appeared to confirm that he would come out of retirement to face the Ukrainian in a bout to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The Daily Mail reports that Fury's team are in talks with for a fight with Usyk to unify the belts, in a fight package that would be worth £150m. The huge fight is currently pencilled in for December 17, the day before the World Cup final takes place in neighbouring Qatar. The two major sporting events on consecutive days would intensify the focus on the Middle East.
Prince Mohammad Abdulaziz, the Saudi minister for sport, said: "We are very interested in the fight for the undisputed heavyweight title. We are looking to do that in the city of Riyadh."
[caption id="attachment_355099" align="alignnone" width="2048"]
Usyk retained his belts in a split decision victory over Joshua (Getty)[/caption]
Usyk retained his belts in a split decision victory over Joshua (Getty)[/caption]
The reports of a date set for the fight come after Fury's promoter Frank Warren told the BBC that a fight to unify the heavyweight division "will be made because both teams would like to see that happen."
After his split decision victory of Joshua, Usyk saud he was "sure" that Fury had not retired.
The 'Gypsy King' had announced his retirement after his knockout win against Dillian Whyte in April. Usyk said: "I'm sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet.
"I'm sure, I'm convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him and if I'm not fighting Tyson Fury, I'm not fighting at all."
Fury had appeared to be watching the fight on television, and he took to social media afterwards.
https://twitter.com/Tyson_Fury/status/1561138327964860420
The 34-year-old told his followers: "I’ve just seen Joshua lose for the second time to Usyk, [he was] out of his depth. England has been relieved of its belts but there is a remedy and solution that I can suggest.
"If you want those belts back then send in the Gypsy barbarian; send me in and I will relieve the Ukrainian dosser of his belts like I did the last Ukrainian dosser.
"But it's not going to be cheap, if you want the best you have to pay. It's going to be very expensive; so get your cheque book out and I will relieve the Ukrainian dosser of the belts."
A fight between Fury and Usyk would undoubtedly be one of the biggest in boxing history.
There has never been a heavyweight fight with all four of the IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC belts on the line.
Fury and Usyk are also both undefeated in their professional careers.
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