Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed to fight each other in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed heavyweight title, Riyadh Season confirmed on Friday.
Fury and Usyk are set to finally meet in the biggest and most highly-anticipated fight boxing can deliver in the early part of 2024.
Fury will first face UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou on October 28 in Riyadh, although his WBC heavyweight world title will not be on the line in this bout which will mark Ngannou’s professional debut.
No date was confirmed on Friday, however ESPN’s Mike Coppinger who first reported news of Fury and Usyk reaching a deal, suggested the showdown could take place on December 23 or in January.
‘The Gypsy King’ will defend his WBC crown for the first time since defeating Derek Chisora in a one-sided points victory in December.
View this post on Instagram
Delighted to finally get this fight signed,” said Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions.
“This is the biggest fight that could possibly be made in our sport.
The heavyweights always spark the imagination of the fans, and I have no doubt this will be the biggest boxing event of the century.
“I look forward to Tyson reclaiming the three belts that he never lost in the ring. Huge thanks to His Excellency and the GEA.”
Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois in August in Poland to retain his WBA ‘super’, WBO and IBF belts.
Queensberry appealed the decision to the WBA after the Ukrainian was given several minutes to recover from what the referee deemed a low blow, with Dubois’ team believing it was a legitimate body shot.
Fury and Usyk will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 and the inaugural champion in the four-belt era.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of The General Entertainment Authority and Head of Riyadh Season, said: “This is the fight that everyone has wanted to see for some time and now it is finally happening – the world’s two heavyweight champions going into the ring against one another.
“It is the biggest fight in boxing, the world will be watching, and we are so proud to be the hosts for this spectacle as part of the fourth edition of our Riyadh Season celebrations.
“We want to play our part and match the huge anticipation surrounding this fight by putting on the greatest fight experience for every visitor to Riyadh.”
