Fury to sit out until early 2024; Usyk demands Dec. 23 fight

It appears unlikely that Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight before the end of the year.

After Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion, edged former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in a surprising split decision Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, his co-promoter Frank Warren said Fury-Usyk won't happen Dec. 23 as planned.

"It was crazy for some people to suggest that it could still go ahead on the 23rd," Warren said, according to Boxing News' Declan Taylor.

"(Fury) is 35 years old and has just done a 12-week training camp and has just been in a tough fight. He needs a break with his family; he needs to switch off. We will announce the date when we are ready."

A deal was reached for the long-awaited undisputed title fight between Fury and Usyk in late September. No date was announced, but Dec. 23 seemed to be the front-runner. After Saturday's win, Fury was noncommittal about a date but said the Usyk fight was still next. Warren mentioned January and February as possibilities.

"He needs protecting from himself, and that's my job," Warren said of making sure Fury rests up.

Usyk took issue with Warren's comments about delaying the matchup. The WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight champion is set on facing Fury in December.

"We have a contract that says that the fight has to take place on the 23rd of December ... I will be ready for the 23rd because I'm in training camp," Usyk told Boxing King Media through an interpreter on Sunday.

When asked about a plan B in case Fury indeed sits out until early 2024, Usyk said "The Gypsy King" should relinquish the WBC title "and then take his rest."

Usyk, who was ringside in Saudi Arabia, said he was concerned when Ngannou knocked Fury down in the third round. He wondered if his massive fight against Fury was slipping away.

"I was a little bit nervous that our fight - possible fight - was in jeopardy," Usyk said. "I even started to shout out to him some small things like, 'Use your jab, jab him faster.'"

He added: "It might look weird when my future opponent is fighting, and I'm here cheering him on, backing for him, shouting some tips for him. It looks weird, probably. But from the other point of view, myself, my team, my country, the whole world wants to see this fight happening. That's why it's important that we do everything possible to make it happen."