Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have discovered when they will meet in a contracted rematch.
The two current leading heavyweights in the division will do battle on May 18 in Saudi Arabia, as they look to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
As part of their agreement, Fury and Usyk’s contract has a two-way rematch clause with the second episode anticipated to take place later in 2024.
And Saudi boxing chief, H.E. Turki Alalshikh, has confirmed in an interview with ESPN, that the fight has been pencilled in to be staged on the weekend of October 12/13 to kick off the latest instalment of Riyadh Season.
Anthony Joshua is then expected to enter the frey, with a fight planned to take place next March against British rival Fury, the showdown that fans have desired for years.
Should Fury and Usyk take one win apiece in their two-fight saga, it is expected that a trilogy bout will then be targeted immediately after AJ and the ‘Gypsy King’ do battle.
Negotiations collapsed between the two teams originally in 2023 as a result of a dispute over the rematch clause, but it was later ironed out and resolved.
It is an exciting time in the heavyweight world title mix, and fans will likely get to see an exciting period of action providing the plan comes to fruition.
The second meeting is expected to take place without the IBF title on the line, as the winner will likely be stripped following the event.
Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic are expected to contest the vacant strap when it is stripped, as part of their crunch showdown on the ‘5 vs 5’ card on June 1 in the Middle East.
Fury has become an integral part of the Saudi revolution in the sport, having previously fought Francis Ngannou in Riyadh last October.
It is likely he will remain a key cog in some huge events, with Joshua also being touted to headline a September ‘Riyadh Season’ card at Wembley Stadium later this year.
The ‘Gypsy King’ is extremely confident of beating Usyk comfortably the first time, but has changed his stance and offered respect to his decorated foe.
He said during an interview with Queensberry Promotions: “Oleksandr Usyk’s a real bad man and to underestimate Usyk you’d be a mug.
“So I’m training hard for him, I’m doing everything I can.
“I respect Usyk as a man. I respect his career as well – Olympic champion, undisputed cruiserweight champion, unified heavyweight champion.
“You have to respect that, I’m fighting the real deal. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“He’s got good footwork, good boxing ability, technically sound.
“He’s proved he can mix it with the big heavyweights because he’s beat Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. I’m messing with an elite fighter.”
