Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk sign contracts for undisputed title fight

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed contracts for their undisputed heavyweight title showdown in Saudi Arabia.

The fight to crown the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis 24 years ago collapsed in dramatic fashion in March this year.

But in a dramatic breakthrough, a deal has now been agreed with the fight set to take place on 23 December or in January at the Kingdom Arena.

‘This is the biggest fight that could possibly be made in our sport,’ Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said in a statement.

‘The heavyweights always spark the imagination of the fans and I have no doubt this will be the biggest boxing event of the century. I look forward to Tyson reclaiming the three belts that he never lost in the ring.’

Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter added: ‘I can’t believe that it’s happening but it is.

‘Difficult to express my admiration for being part of the biggest heavyweight fight of the century.

‘Gratitude to the KSA and his excellency Turki Al-Sheik for making it happen, respect to Tyson for his courage and thank the Lord for all he gives us.’

Before then, WBC champion Fury takes on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in an non-title exhibition bout in Saudi on 28 October.

Usyk, who has held the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles since his 2021 victory over Anthony Joshua, recently defended the titles against Daniel Dubois in Poland in August.

The heavyweight rivals came face-to-face in London last December following Fury’s victory over Derek Chisora with hope their historic fight would be agreed for the first half of 2023.

An April date at Wembley Stadium looked set only for talks to fall through in spectacular fashion.

A 70-30 split of the first purse in Fury’s favour was agreed but the two camps were unable to agree terms relating to contracted rematch between the pair later down the line.

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