Boxing
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: Fight date, venue and all you need to know
Tyson Fury is now looking to face Oleksandr Usyk after witnessing him defeat Anthony Joshua
Tyson Fury has continued to let his team know that he is now seemingly interested in fighting Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight unification bout after the Ukrainian defeated Anthony Joshua on Saturday evening.
Usyk remains atop of the boxing pound-for-pound rankings after the victory over the Brit, and although Fury has numerously stated that he would retire, it seems he’ll now return to face the heavyweight champion.
Usyk was awarded Fury’s Ring Magazine title after the win this past weekend, which Fury was forced to vacate after speaking on retirement. But talks are already underway for the two to face one another, in what would be one of the more highly anticipated heavyweight bouts since in recent history.
Odds have already been released showing a clear favourite in the fight, with a date and venue already being earmarked – which could see the bout happening as early as this year.
Here is all you need to know on what has been said on the potential fight so far:
Date and venue
It has been revealed that talks are already underway to see the Gypsy King return to action after Usyk defeated Joshua on Saturday night, winning in convincing fashion to reclaim the WBA, IBF and WBO whilst also taking the vacant Ring Magazine title, given up by Fury.
It comes after Fury has once again reversed his decision to call time on his boxing career to challenge Usyk. The Daily Mail has reported that a fight date has been ‘pencilled in’ for December 17 in Saudi Arabia – the night before the World Cup final in Qatar.
Prince Mohammad Abdulaziz, the Saudi minister for sport, confirmed: “We are very interested in the fight for the undisputed heavyweight title. We are looking to do that in the city of Riyadh.”
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has confirmed it is extremely unlikely the fight will be held in the UK. “At the end of the day, it’s where the most money can be generated,” he said.
“There would [be huge demand to have it in the UK], but where would you put it on? We wouldn’t be able to put it on until next year.
“It’s no good going to the Millennium Stadium, it doesn’t hold the same amount of people as Wembley does and can’t generate the same money.
“If it were to go on in the UK it needs to be Wembley and it can’t go on until the end of April or May next year.
“We want to get it on before then. While everybody is hot to trot and there are no mandatories force on in the meantime.”
What has been said
Oleksandr Usyk
Speaking after his victory over Joshua, Usyk confirmed he’ll look to fight Fury, who could retire. He said: “The fight with Fury is the only one I want. If that doesn’t happen I may not fight again. But I do believe we are going to fight each other soon.”
Tyson Fury
They were s*** and I’d beat them both on the same night’ — then proclaiming: ‘The Gypsy King is here to stay for ever so get your f****** cheque book out.”
Warren
Warren told BBC Radio 5 live on Monday: “He and Usyk would be a really good fight. It’s a fight that I think will be made because both teams would like to see that happen. Usyk said after the fight that it’s the only fight he’s interested in and it’s certainly the same case with Tyson. It’s just a matter of where it will generate the most income because it’s a unique fight, a historic fight.
“It’s the first time for God knows how long that the four belts are on the line. Both fighters are undefeated. The whole world of boxing will be captivated by this fight.”
Bob Arum
Taking to social media, Fury’s American promoter said: “Top Rank and our co-promoter, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, are hopeful we can make the biggest heavyweight championship fight since Ali fought Frazier…. Fury vs. Usyk.”
-MEN
U.S. immigration authorities have arrested Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Los Angeles and plan to deport him, they said on Thursday, just days after he lost a high-profile bout to American rival Jake Paul.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Chavez was determined to be in the country illegally last week after he made fraudulent statements on a 2024 application for permanent residence. He is married to a U.S. citizen, it said.
Michael Goldstein, a lawyer for Chavez, said more than two dozen immigration agents arrested the boxer at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles on Wednesday.
“The current allegations are outrageous and appear to be designed as a headline to terrorize the community,” Goldstein said.
Homeland Security said that the 39-year-old boxer, son of Mexican world champion fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, is suspected of ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, which Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organization.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. speaks at press conference in anticipation of his fight against Jake Paul at Avalon Hollywood Theater. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images/File Photo
His wife, Frida Munoz Chavez, was previously married to the son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison. The son, Edgar, was assassinated in 2008.
Chavez is the target of a Mexican arrest warrant on allegations of involvement in organized crime and firearms trafficking, DHS said.
In Mexico, Chavez’ family said in a statement they “fully trust in his innocence.”
Chavez lost to influencer-turned-boxer Paul, 28, last weekend before a sold-out crowd in Anaheim, California, in a unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
He was allowed to enter the United States temporarily in early January under former President Joe Biden, DHS said. He had previously overstayed a tourist visa, it said.
The agency said Chavez was convicted in Los Angeles in 2024 on weapons charges. Goldstein denied he was convicted, saying he pleaded not guilty and was granted mental health diversion which will result in dismissal of the charges.
Chavez won the WBC middleweight championship in 2011, but lost the title the next year.
His career has been overshadowed by controversies including a suspension after testing positive for a banned substance in 2009 and a fine and suspension after testing positive for marijuana in 2013.
His record stands at 54 wins, six losses and one draw, with 34 knockouts.
Reporting by Brendan O’Brien and Bhargav Acharya, Lizbeth Diaz, Angelica Medina, Diego Ore and Kylie Madry in Mexico City, Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot
-Reuters
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Manny Pacquiao will come out of retirement to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship on July 19 in Las Vegas, the 46-year-old Filipino boxer said on Wednesday.
Pacquiao is the only boxer to win world championships in a record eight weight divisions while he was also the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40 in 2019.
A Filipino senator from 2016 to 2022, Pacquiao had retired from boxing in 2021 while he also ran for president in 2022.
“I’m back. On July 19, I return to the ring to face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Let’s make history,” Pacquiao wrote on Instagram.
The southpaw, who has 62 wins, eight losses and two draws in a 72-fight career, was also elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
Barrios, a Mexican-American boxer, has 29 wins in 32 bouts, winning 18 by knockout and losing twice.
-Reuters
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The body of Segun Olanrewaju, the Nigerian boxer who slumped and died in the ring in Ghana on Saturday is still in a mortuary in Ghana. The President of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Dr Rafiu Oladipo, informed Sports Village Square that an autopsy will be conducted on Wednesday.
He said that the NBB of C is closely monitoring the events in Ghana, even as the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade has asked for updates on the sad incident.
On Monday, a delegation of the NBB of C visited the family of the late boxer in Sango Otta in Ogun State. Oladipo said he was still in shock at the death of the boxer who he considered fit having fought last December 29.
He revealed that one of the members of the Nigerian delegation to Ghana stayed behind to follow up on the autopsy.
He narrated that the late boxer took part on Thursday in the mandatory weigh-in which is normally conducted 24 hours before a fight. Additionally, a medical check-up is also to be conducted.
“But in this instance, there was no medical check. On this ground, Oladipo blamed the Ghana Boxing Authority.
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