TYSON FURY has refused to confirm whether his slated fight with Oleksandr Usyk will go ahead in December.
It had been thought that the two have agreed to fight on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
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But Fury’s shambolic performance against MMA star Francis Ngannou has thrown that date into doubt.
Ngannou knocked Fury down in the third round and inflicted heavy bruising and a cut to the face of the champion over the ten rounds.
Fury struggled to land any meaningful punches as he looked to keep the MMA heavyweight at range.
Throughout the fight, Ngannou looked to be the more dominant and many were left shocked by the result that had Fury winning by a 2-1 split decision.
After the bout, Fury refused to commit to a date.
Presenter Josh Denzel asked Fury and promoter Frank Warren whether the fight on December 23 would still be happening.
Warren interjected to diplomatically say: “He’s gonna rest up, that’s what’s gonna happen next and then he’s gonna make a decision of what he wants to do because he’s the boss.”
A cagey Fury then said: “Listen, I’m gonna go home, I’ve been in training camp now for 12 weeks. I’ve got a long tough old camp in. I’m gonna go home, take a long hard rest and then we’ll see what’s next for us.”
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Usyk was later jettisoned into the ring and went face to face with Fury.
Fury was more buoyant by the time the two squared up and said: “Listen, it’s been going on a long time. We were supposed to fight in April at Wembley. It never happened. Let’s do the fight over here [Saudi Arabia].
“His excellency Turki Al-Sheikh is going to put the fight on for all the belts, the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Let’s go my brother, let’s go.”
Usyk put it more simply, and said: “Let’s go.”
Denzel then put it simply and said: “Will the fight be on December 23? It’s been touted across the boxing world. Will we see it on that date?”
Fury replied: “Listen it’s not up to me, I’m a fighter and he’s a fighter. I’m sure we could go now. Let’s go now if you want!”
Denzel then turned to Usyk and said: “Can we agree 23rd of December?”
A slightly confused Usyk replied: “Oui.”
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Frank Warren interjected to say: “He speaks perfect English! Don’t you worry about that.”
After Usyk said he wanted the fight again, Denzel asked Warren if the fight would happen.
Warren poured cold water on the speculation and said no decision coudl be made until a cut on Fury’s head was loooked at.
He added: “I don’t think the date will be announced yet. I don’t, in my opinion, that’s where we go.
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“But the fight is wanted. It’s done, this man done it here [pointing to Al-Sheikh]. This fight is on, these guys both want it and it’s just a matter of now setting a date.
“Tyson’s got a cut there, so there’s no good saying a date whilst he’s got a cut on the top of his head. But this fight is on. It’s the biggest fight in boxing.”