Guardian Nigeria
The many titles make it hard for even the most discerning fans to determine the best of the boxing crop. However, the heavyweight class is the brand of the four-belt era, and Oleksandr Usyk sits at the top of the world.
Usyk overcame a slow start to knock down Tyson Fury and win a split decision to become the new undisputed champion. Now, the latter wants his rematch.
Soon after the match ended, Frank Warren, Fury’s co-promoter, reaffirmed a contractual rematch clause. When asked if he wanted an immediate rematch, Fury reiterated his desire to do it again.
He even stated sympathetic scoring bias for the Russian-Ukraine war as the reason for his loss. Usyk, now 2-0-0 (14 KOs), thus gets to run it back again with the British heavyweight.
Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) has now triggered his clause with Usyk for an instant rematch. Promoter Bob Arum nudges that he has his safety net in place, meaning Fury can also face Anthony Joshua even if Usyk beats him again.
The former WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO champ himself is fond of such a “Battle of Britain” to take place as well. Per sources, he and Usyk will run things back again soon.
Arum told talkSport Boxing that they would meet at the end of the year or early 2025. With a guaranteed Joshua fight, Fury thus bags a nice payday. As well as a chance to be A-side again; it might just happen he gets lucky in the scoring. But if ‘The Cat’ has taught anything, it’s not to count him out yet.
Meanwhile, Frank Warren maintains that Usyk should hold on to his IBF strap.
Because of how tough the Fury versus Usyk fight was the undisputed champion has been temporarily suspended from fighting for 40 or 45 days by the British Boxing Commission. So, he cannot defend his title IBF title, which leaves room for Daniel Duboisand Filip Hrgovic to fight for the belt on June 1.
Usyk has already requested a waiver from the IBF to retain the belt. The IBF will make the decision soon. If they veer positively, Hrgovic and Dubois will meet without a title at stake or even an interim title at stake.
