New date set for Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk due to Francis Ngannou heroics

Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed heavyweight title bout will take place on February 17, according to ESPN.

The clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was earlier pencilled in for December 23.

Fury's night from hell against Ngannou has complicated things

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Fury's night from hell against Ngannou has complicated thingsCredit: Getty

However, that date had to be pushed back after Fury received the shock of his career from Francis Ngannou on October 28.

The Gypsy King' was knocked down by the MMA legend in an exhibition bout, and left with a black eye before controversially winning via a split decision.

Usyk was present for that Saudi bout, and then met Fury in the ring after as they confirmed they will face off for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles.

After months of failed negotiations and trash talk between the camps earlier this year, Usyk faced Daniel Dubois and Fury opted to take on Ngannou.

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Many saw this as a final nail in the coffin for the chances of Fury vs Usyk happening in 2023.

However, since the Ngannou fight was finalised a couple of months ago, talks have quietly resumed behind the scenes between the heavyweights' teams and Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority.

The Saudis have been determined to stage an undisputed heavyweight world title fight for several years because it constitutes an incredibly rare, marquee event in sport.

In late September, it was confirmed that the fight was officially agreed and had been signed, with an announcement initially planned to take place immediately after Fury vs Ngannou.

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However, the UFC star threw a spanner in the works by giving the Gypsy King a far tougher night than expected and forcing organisers to push the fight back from its proposed date of December 23.

It will now take place on February 17 instead, with official confirmation expected this week.

There will be no love lost when the two champions face off shortly after Valentine's Day

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There will be no love lost when the two champions face off shortly after Valentine's DayCredit: Getty
George Groves believes Tyson Fury won't fight Oleksandr Usyk next year and can only see him facing Francis Ngannou again

Lennox Lewis was boxing's last undisputed heavyweight world champion - back in the days when the WBO belt was lesser regarded.

He unified the WBA, WBC and IBF world titles by beating Evander Holyfield in 1999.

This was at a time when the WBO has not respected as a true world title.

Now, in the four-belt era of modern boxing, an undisputed king will be crowned again.

Fury will stake his WBC belt, while Usyk will put his WBA, IBF and WBO on the line. The winner will emerge with all four world titles as undisputed heavyweight world champion.

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