Oleksandr Usyk Will Not Entertain Tyson Fury Fight Until 2023
If boxing fanatics and aficionados were given their way, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (32-0-1, 23 KO’s) and unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KO’s) would meet at the tail end of this year. Usyk is fresh off the first successful title defense of his trio of belts. In that contest he once again out-boxed former champion Anthony Joshua en route to a second win on points.
Meanwhile, Fury has been playing hopscotch with the notion of retirement. One moment he’s done, the next minute he’s entertaining potential new fights. One of those would-be duels pits him against Usyk to determine the undisputed champion of the division. Truthfully speaking, both the fighters seem to be on board as well, yet things still are not that simple.
MEDIC!
No matter how much anybody on the planet craves to see this showdown though, Usyk assures that it will not take place until at least 2023. This is because, aside from wanting to spend time with his family and in his country, the unified champion informed TalkSport that he has a number of physical ailments to rectify before returning to the ring.
“Fighting Tyson Fury in December is impossible, for two reasons. First, I have old injuries that need to be treated. They made themselves known. Recovery will take a couple of months. Second, I just don’t want to box in December. I haven’t left the gym for half a year. I want to be with my children, my family, there are certain things to do at home. Boxing can wait a little. Next year, I think it will happen.”
It’s very understandable that Usyk would want to mend his body and spend time with loved ones. His country has famously been locked in bitter combat with Russia with no end in sight. For a brief time, Usyk himself joined the defense forces, but returned to the sport when countless countrymen implored him to do so. Ideally, the Ukrainian will have a smooth rehab and recovery and can return during the first or second quarter of 2023.
By: Bakari Simpson
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