Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have finally signed a deal to fight for the undisputed world heavyweight title.
WBC champion Fury and Usyk, the WBO, WBA and IBF title holder, will meet in the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight date is yet to be confirmed but is likely to fall late in 2023 or early in 2024.
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The prospect of a unification title fight has long been in the works with both fighters unable to come to an agreement on terms until now.
Frank Warren, of Queensberry Promotions, said: “Delighted to finally get this fight signed. 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.”
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) September 29, 2023
Top Rank’s Bob Arum added: “Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are the two greatest heavyweights of their generation, and I can’t wait to see what happens when they step into the ring in Riyadh. They are special talents worthy of competing for the greatest prize in sports.”
“I can’t believe that it’s happening but it is,” said Alex Krassyk of K2. “Difficult to express my admiration for being part of the biggest heavyweight fight of the century.”
Undefeated Usyk, a former undisputed champion at cruiserweight, became WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion when he dethroned Anthony Joshua in 2021 before winning the rematch a year later.
He last fought against Daniel Dubois in August, stopping the Brit in nine rounds.
Fury, who knocked out American Deontay Wilder in back-to-back thrilling fights in 2020 and 2021, beat Brits Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in 2022, both via stoppage.
He will next be in action against former MMA fighter Francis Ngannou, also in Riyadh, next month.
Usyk is a perfect 21-0 in his career while Fury boasts a 33-0-1 professional record.
The winner of the fight, should it go ahead as planned, will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
(Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images / Francois Nel/Getty Images)