The reigning heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, has encountered a setback as a cut over his right eye sustained during sparring on Friday has necessitated stitches. 

Consequently, his much-anticipated undisputed heavyweight championship clash against Oleksandr Usyk, scheduled for February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed, announced Fury’s promoter, Queensberry.

In expressing his disappointment, Fury lamented, “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition.” He extended his regrets to all parties involved, including his team, Team Usyk, fellow fighters on the undercard, partners, fans, and the hosts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A makeup date for the bout remains undetermined, pending an evaluation of Fury’s eye injury by medical professionals. A spokesperson for Queensberry Promotions affirmed, “Once the doctors have appraised Tyson’s eye, we will have a better idea of the period of recovery needed.”

In response to Fury’s injury, heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic expressed his readiness to step up and face Usyk for the three heavyweight titles on February 17. Hrgovic, ranked sixth by ESPN among heavyweights, is the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s IBF heavyweight championship.

Efforts are underway to explore the possibility of arranging a bout between Usyk and Hrgovic to salvage the February 17 event in Riyadh.

Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) and Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) were set to headline what promised to be the most anticipated heavyweight title bout since Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson in 2002. Originally scheduled for December 23, the bout was postponed due to Fury’s grueling encounter with Francis Ngannou in October in Riyadh.

The Fury-Usyk agreement includes a two-way rematch clause, ensuring consecutive high-stakes showdowns between the two fighters.