Believe it or not, Tyson Fury will indeed fight Oleksandr Usyk, possibly on December 23 in Saudi Arabia despite having fought just eight weeks prior. Queensberry Promotions confirmed this today (September 29), stating that both heavyweights have signed for the fight, which will take place during Riyadh Season.
During Riyadh Season, Fury is also scheduled to “box” mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou on October 28. However, with the news of the Usyk fight, one has to wonder if the Ngannou match has become even more troublesome and meaningless. With so much on the line and to look forward to, the only thing that could potentially derail what has been successfully set in motion is a massive upset on October 28.
Fortunately, those who have witnessed Ngannou’s training for this Fury spectacle will realize the chances of him causing an upset are highly unlikely. Nonetheless, in the unpredictable world of boxing, it is still possible for Ngannou to cut Fury during the fight or for Fury to injure himself while seeking an inevitable victory.
In many ways, with the news of Fury vs. Usyk being targeted for December (or possibly January), the Fury vs. Ngannou fight becomes both more meaningless and more significant. It is now imperative for Fury to not only win but to do so convincingly and cleanly. Additionally, it is crucial for him to swiftly finish the fight and return to what he does best after an 18-month break from duty as the heavyweight champion of the world.