Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk still on – even if we must all wait until February

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s Christmas cracker is set to be put on ice – but there should be no fears that it won’t happen.

Boxing has its own very special way of kicking itself in the 'you know whats', and Fury’s fumbling around with Francis Ngannou looks set to shelve a December 23 date for the undisputed heavyweight championship clash. So often we’ve seen big fights fall away due to shock defeats, promotional politics or just contractual nonsense…

But this time it is different with Fury and Usyk – there’s only one way out of that bout happening and that’s if either man retires from the sport. They’ve both signed contracts which are legally binding and stop either man facing another foe until they’ve shared the ring together at least once.

READ MORE: Tyson Fury shows off giant black eye after controversial victory over Francis Ngannou

READ MORE: Oleksandr Usyk tells Tyson Fury 'fight me in December or vacate your belt'

These were drafted by lawyers on behalf of the Public Investment Fund in Saudi Arabia. There’s no wiggle room here. Plus, the money is so eye-wateringly huge that either man would have to lose the plot to even try to skip this bout. Not that either man has.

Before Fury’s fight at the weekend, it appeared Usyk wanted a date next year rather than December, but he cleared that up before the bout by claiming he was mistranslated. Now it’s Usyk pushing for the December 23 date – and why wouldn’t he, having seen the Gypsy King nearly lose his throne in a dismal display against boxing novice Ngannou.

What's your prediction for the fight (when it eventually happens)? Let us know in the comments section.

Fury wants a February fight now to give himself time to recover from a harder-than-expected clash with the MMA combatant. Usyk insists he has signed contracts for December and will push for then, but there’s no way he will try to move on from the bout if it doesn’t happen then.

The Ukrainian’s face when Fury got floored by Ngannou at the weekend showed just how much he was worried about losing the pay day north of £50m. He won’t give it up because of a couple of months' wait.

The bout is supposed to be another instalment of ‘Riyadh Season’ in the Saudi capital, but the so-called season goes on till March so the money men over there will have no issue waiting a little longer. They did want it on December 23 to bring a sporting spectacular to the nation just a day after the FIFA Club World Cup in Jeddah, which Manchester City will contest in.

Everything was ready to be announced on Saturday night or early Sunday morning if Fury had coasted past Ngannou like expected. But there won’t be panic over there that Fury wants a bit more time.

It’s a fight which boxing desperately needs, and calls from rival promoter Eddie Hearn that it is "dead" because of Fury’s fortunate win over Ngannou are laughable. Fury is still the WBC champion and Usyk holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. And the sport has been crying out for an undisputed king in the glamour division since Lennox Lewis last won it in 1999.

He was awful against Ngannou, but it was a non-title bout, so even if he lost then he would remain as the other world champion in the division. If Man City lose a friendly to a non-League side, they don’t have to give up their title of Treble winners!

Boxing needs Fury against Usyk to happen to settle who is the best at heavyweight and the king of the biggest division in the sport. We may have to wait a little longer for it now because of Fury’s flat showing, but it is still the biggest bout in the sport.

They will no doubt meet early next year and then for a rematch in September should the loser want it. Saudi Arabia will make sure of it.

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