On Saturday, December 21, a rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury has been confirmed by TURKI ALALSHIKH.
The rematch between Usyk and Fury, which is scheduled to happen seven months after their initial fight, will be held in the Saudi Arabian capital, just like their previous bout. In their first encounter, Usyk emerged victorious and became the undisputed heavyweight champion after securing a split decision win (114-113, 113-114, 115-112) over Fury at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, holds the responsibility of uniting the prominent figures of boxing to create exceptional fights across the sport. On May 18, a momentous occasion unfolded as Usyk achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis triumphed over Evander Holyfield in 1999.
The highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk, the Undisputed Champion, and Tyson Fury, the reigning Champion, has been officially set for December 21, 2024, as part of Riyadh Season. Once again, the world will witness a remarkable fight, adding to the legacy of this sport. Our dedication to boxing fans remains unwavering, and we sincerely hope you relish this thrilling event.
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) May 29, 2024
Fury experienced his first career defeat, putting an end to his impressive four-year reign as the WBC champion. During this period, he achieved notable victories over Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, and Derek Chisora, marking two of them as epic wins.
During the Monday of Usyk-Fury fight week, John, the father of Fury, engaged in a disturbing incident where he confronted members of Usyk’s team. The 69-year-old went on to headbutt one of them, causing blood to trickle down his face.
Fortunately, those memories did not dominate the conversation of the week, thanks to the impressive performances of his son and Usyk in the boxing ring. However, the British boxer wasted valuable time fooling around in the early rounds, allowing Usyk to gain an advantage. Despite this setback, Fury rallied and managed to land powerful body shots on Usyk, as well as deliver a series of heavy blows. Usyk, who sought inspiration by kissing a crucifix in his corner, managed to regain his footing and nearly knocked down ‘The Gypsy King’ in round nine. Referee Mark Nelson intervened and issued a standing count to the disoriented Fury, who showed great resilience in recovering from the situation.
Fury turned the tables in the last round as he once again showcased his fighting spirit, dominating the session based on all three scorecards.
It is uncertain if all four titles will be up for grabs once more. Initially, the IBF appeared likely to strip Usyk of his title due to his inability to confront the long-standing mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic. Hrgovic is set to fight Daniel Dubois on June 1. Nevertheless, Usyk has appealed to the governing body for an exception, seeking to make his rematch with Fury an opportunity to regain the undisputed championship.