Tyson Fury has stated his intention to trigger an immediate rematch clause following defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.
The self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ suffered his maiden professional loss in Saturday night’s massive heavyweight main event in Saudi Arabia, relinquishing the WBC world title he had held since 2020 following a split-decision defeat and missing out on the chance to make history as the first undisputed champion of boxing’s glamour division in the four-belt era.
However, Fury will get the chance to inflict immediate revenge on Usyk should he so wish, with the contract for the much-anticipated, twice-delayed showdown featuring a clause that allows the loser of the first fight to trigger a swift rematch, with mid-October previously pinpointed as the most likely date.
Fury seemed very eager to make use of such a clause in his immediate post-fight interview in the ring, stating: “We go back home to our families and we run it back in October.
“Yeah, for sure [immediate rematch]. We go back, have a little rest up and spend some time with our families and get it back on in October.
“I believe I won the fight, but I’m not going to sit here and cry and make excuses. It was a good fight.”
Quizzed on the rematch, Usyk said in the ring: “Yes, of course. I’m ready for the rematch.”
However, Fury seemed more non-committal on an immediate rematch during his post-fight press conference, insisting he would take time to weigh up his next move with promoter Frank Warren.
“We’ve just had a fight,” he said. “If you can see my face, I’m pretty busted up and he’s [Usyk] gone to the hospital with a broken jaw. He’s busted too.
“We punched f**k out of each other for 12 rounds there, so we’re going to go home, eat some food, drink a few beers, spend some family time, walk the dog, go to the tip, and me and Frank will talk about what’s going to happen in the future.”
However, Fury, who turns 36 in August, appears to have no plans to step away from boxing after suffering an agonising first professional loss.
“Close fight, could have nicked it, couldn’t have, whatever, could have been a draw, who knows? But I haven’t got the decision and I’m not going to cry about it.
“We’ll regroup, I’ll have a holiday, go home, speak to the wife and kids and I’ll see what I want to do.
“I ain’t boxing in here because I’ve got no money. I box because I love it.
“Do you understand? I’m 36 in a few months and I’ve been boxing since I was a child. So it is what it is. Where does it all end? Do you have 100 fights and brain damage in a wheelchair? I’m not sure.
“But the one thing is, all the time I’m still loving the game... I was having fun in there, I was really enjoying myself. Then I’ll continue to do it. When I can’t do that anymore, I’ll pack it up.”
Any rematch between Usyk and Fury will not have the same undisputed moniker attached, with Usyk’s reign in that regard set to be disappointingly short-lived.
The IBF are expected to take their belt back shortly and put it on the line again when heavyweight mandatories Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois clash as part of the Matchroom vs Queensbury 5v5 event to be held back in Riyadh on June 1.
It is hoped that the winner of that fight will go on to face Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September, with the winner of that fight then potentially meeting the winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch for undisputed status again in early 2025.
