Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk were scheduled to fight in December (Getty)
Tyson Fury’s heavyweight unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk has been delayed until February, according to reports.
The undisputed bout, which will be held in Saudi Arabia, was initially scheduled for December 23 this year.
However, the damage Fury suffered in his controversial split-decision victory over Francis Ngannou on Saturday evening has meant that the December date has been pushed back.
According to ESPN, the fight will still take place in Riyadh but it will now be held in February 2024.
Fury and Usyk have both signed contracts for the fight.
Tyson Fury is now set to fight Oleksandr Usyk in February 2024 (Getty)
In the build up to his fight with Ngannou, Fury had warned Usyk that he could face legal action if he pulled out of the proposed date of December 23.
‘Usyk has to fight me in December, doesn’t have a choice,’ Fury said.
‘He signed the contract, so if he doesn’t, he’s breached contract and he gets sued. So he doesn’t really have a choice.’
Tyson Fury suffered bruising to his left eye during his fight with Francis Ngannou (Boxing King Media)
Usyk, meanwhile, has been adamant that Fury should honour the December 23 date, despite the bruising he suffered in his narrow win over Ngannou.
‘We have a contract that says the fight has to take place on Dec 23rd,’ Usyk said.
‘Let Fury vacate his title first, then he can take his rest.
‘Tyson – we must fight, we must do it, December 23. See you in the ring. I love you.’
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Fury had warned Usyk he could face legal action if he missed the December date.