Tyson Fury 'anxious for the rematch' with Oleksandr Usyk, says Bob Arum
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Published 24/05/2024 at 21:24 GMT
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury went to war in Riyadh earlier this month, with the Ukrainian walking away as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. However, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum says the Gypsy King wants round two, and believes that the Brit came out on top in the epic at the Kingdom Arena. There is also the possibility of a British super-fight with Anthony Joshua.
Tyson Fury reacts after being punched by Oleksandr Usyk during the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Undisputed Heavyweight titles' fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk at Kingdom Arena on May 18, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Image credit: Getty Images
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has said Tyson Fury wants a rematch with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk before the end of the year.
Ukraine's Usyk beat the 'Gypsy King' via a split decision at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh earlier this month to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era and end Fury's unbeaten record.
The former unified heavyweight champion controlled the early stages of the historic clash but was almost floored in a thrilling ninth round before eventually suffering the first defeat of his professional career.
Arum also hinted that any rematch would take place in Saudi Arabia.
"I know Tyson is anxious for the rematch," he said. "I think probably it will be in November or December because you can't do it in October.
"The guys have been training for a whole year and now for them to go back into training makes no sense.
"So I think late November, early December or mid-December would be ideal for the rematch.
"I think the contract provides for Saudi Arabia to do the rematch and the truth is that doing it any place else would be impossible even without the contract, because nobody could afford those purses as big a fight as it is.
"And the Saudis are great hosts. I thought the presentation of the event was terrific. So I'm sure the rematch would occur in Saudi Arabia."
Anthony Joshua believes the judges were right to name Usyk the winner of the bout.
Usyk beat the Olympic gold medallist twice in 12 months, but Arum believes Fury still wants to take on his British rival.
"Talking to Tyson, he wants that [Joshua] fight," he said.
"And that fight would certainly belong in Wembley.
"Hopefully that's where it would take place."
Fury may have lost his titles, but the scorecards were close and pundits were divided on who won the fight.
Arum believes Fury came out on top, but only just.
"Yeah, the way I looked at it and I was sitting with Frank [Warren] and after the 10th round, I told him that Tyson has to win one of the next two rounds to win the fight," he added.
"He didn't win the 11th but he clearly won the 12th round.
"I had the first round for Usyk, then the next six rounds for Tyson. The rest for Usyk except for the last round, which I gave to Fury. I had seven rounds to five, I had Tyson winning by one point, as did one of the judges."
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