Tyson Fury's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will take place on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh announces on social media; Usyk beat Fury in Saudi Arabia earlier this month to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years and first in the four-belt era
Wednesday 29 May 2024 19:45, UK
Tyson Fury's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will take place on Saturday December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's chair of General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh has announced.
Usyk emerged victorious via split decision when the rivals met earlier this month to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 and first in the four-belt era.
It had been well-publicised in the lead-up to the fight that the Fury-Usyk contract included a rematch clause.
Writing on social media on Wednesday, Alalshikh said: "The rematch... is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season.
"The world will watch another historical fight again. Our commitment to boxing fans continues. We hope you enjoy it."
Fury's promoter Fank Warren told Sky Sports this week: "I spoke to him [Fury] after the fight and obviously when he got back just to make sure he's okay. He was very disappointed but very philosophical.
"The rematch was signed before the first fight took place anyway...both fighters said they want it and we'll go from there.
"It was a fabulous fight, two absolute gladiators who didn't leave anything in the ring in an epic fight in the most important fight of the 21st century.
"A very, very close fight and I think it will be an even bigger one next time."
Fury had seemingly been in control of the fight at the midway point when Usyk made a stunning breakthrough, a thrilling ninth round seeing the Ukrainian threaten to stop 'The Gypsy King', who received a standing count.
Warren is confident Fury can make the required adjustments to avenge his first career defeat second time around.
"I think he can, he believes he can," said Warren. "The truth of the matter is there was a point in the fight, I think at the end of the seventh round when he caught Usyk with a couple of really good uppercuts and he was struggling a bit.
"But he went back to the corner and found a second wind and came out and caught Tyson with a really good shot on the nose. It seemed to trouble Tyson a bit, it took his momentum away a bit, obviously we know what happened in the ninth.
"It was a fight of two halves, Tyson knows what he has to do and I'm sure Usyk does. Both of those guys were in an absolute war, that has taken a lot out of both of them.
"It will be interesting to see when it does happen who it has impacted the most."
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