New date announced for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk as £10m back-out fee revealed
A new date has been confirmed for Tyson Fury's undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
WBC champion Fury was due to face WBA, IBF and WBO belt holder Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17 - in an event dubbed 'Ring of Fire'.
However, the bout was called off on Friday after Fury sustained a cut above his right eye during a sparring session.
In a statement released on social media, Fury said he was "devastated" by the injury.
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Fury and Usyk both appeared on The MMA Hour With Ariel Helwani on Saturday along with Saudi Arabian royal adviser Turki Alalshikh to discuss the postponement of the fight.
During the episode, Alalshikh announced plans for the fight to be rearranged for a new event to be held in Saudi Arabia on May 18.
"We can deliver the fight and I choose the date – it is May 18. We have delayed it until May 18," he said.
Alalshikh also claimed that Usyk and Fury would receive a £10m payment if their opponent pulled out of the new fight.
"I guarantee both of the fighters £10m if someone escapes from the fight. This is the first thing, and the second thing – I guarantee a big fight on the same night for another one," he added.
"Make the people around the world know if someone is scared and wants to escape from this fight.
"May 18 – we will have Tyson vs Usyk."
He went on to claim that Fury could face Anthony Joshua if Usyk pulled out of the rearranged fight.
"If Usyk is scared, I will call for Joshua vs Tyson. If Tyson is scared, I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants," added Alalshikh.
"This is in my name. We have a guarantee from both sides and they know it now."
"On May 18, we will have the answer whether someone is a coward."
Fury went on to provide further details about the incident that led to his cut.
"Yesterday morning sparring, arranged to spar 12 rounds with four different guys. In round five I got an elbow in the eye, been to the hospital and got 11 stitches - nothing much anything can do about cut in sparring, s*** happens," he added.
"I was very disappointed, I've been in Saudi Arabia five weeks training and everything was going fantastic.
"It's a cut that you can’t help and these things happen in camp sometimes."
Topics: Boxing, Ariel Helwani, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk
Rory O'Callaghan