WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman, recently shed light on the anticipated Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk clash for undisputed heavyweight status on February 17. Despite initial assumptions of an immediate rematch clause, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, a pivotal promotional force, facilitated an agreement, hinting that the winner might face Anthony Joshua or Francis Ngannou, as revealed by Saudi’s Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment, Turki Al-Sheikh.
Contrary to previous concerns about a mandated second fight, indications now suggest that Fury and Usyk might not engage in a rematch, raising questions about the earlier speculation of the IBF stripping the victor due to potential failure in meeting mandatory obligations.
Sulaiman, in a recent news article, previewed the forthcoming battle, assuring fans that, regardless of the outcome, there will be a continuation, a “chapter two” in this epic showdown for the undisputed title. Lennox Lewis, the last Undisputed heavyweight champion, is set to be a guest of honor, representing the WBC in crowning the new champion.
Regarding the Joshua-Ngannou fight on March 8, Sulaiman hinted at immediate plans for the winner but refrained from specifying. The significance of this bout was underscored, with Sulaiman deeming it the most crucial in the fighters’ lives.
The intricacies of the post-fight scenarios are likely to remain shrouded in uncertainty until both bouts transpire. Fury, expressing his intentions, previously stated his willingness to relinquish all belts except the WBC and Ring Magazine titles. As the countdown to these pivotal matchups continues, the boxing world awaits the unfolding of these high-stakes narratives in the heavyweight division.