Tyson Fury has been forced to pull out of his undisputed world heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk after suffering a cut in sparring.
All four belts were due to be on the line on February 17 with Fury and Usyk due to finally go head to head in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, on Friday evening, Queensberry Promotions and Fury - the WBC title holder - revealed that the fight has had to be shelved due to a severe cut above the right eye of Fury.
In a statement from Queensberry, it was said that the cut was 'significant and required urgent medical attention'.
FURY VS USYK STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/z7nf4Q3N70
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) February 2, 2024
Fury added: "I am absolutely devastated. I feel bad for everyone involved in his huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed".
The 35-year-old had set up the long-awaited meeting with Usyk after surviving a knockdown to edge past former UFC heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou in October.
As it stands, no new date has been suggested, but boxing journalist Dan Rafael said on X that talks are underway for Filip Hrgovic - the IBF mandatory challenger - to step in at short notice to fight Usyk on February 17.
Whether that is realistic remains unclear, with Hrgovic having been due to face the winner of Fury or Usyk later in the year or fight a different opponent for the vacant title.
Darren Plant
