TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk will rerun their undisputed classic on December 21 in the biggest fight of the 21st century.
The heavyweight pair went toe-to-toe over 12 sensational Riyadh rounds on May 18 – for a purse of around £115million – with 37-year-old Ukraine icon Usyk getting a split decision win.
Knowing a rematch clause was already in the contract, fight fans expected a cagey contest, with the usually longshot draw as low as 12-1.
But they were treated to a fight for the ages as 35-year-old Fury banked the mid rounds with uppercuts until Usyk smashed his nose in round eight and almost rendered him unconscious in the ninth.
October was the targeted rerun month but the damage both men suffered and the commercial success of the first instalment means both brave warriors have seven months to make the second take even more of a blockbuster.
Saudi boxing kingmaker Turki Alalshikh said: “The rematch between the Undisputed Champion Oleksandr Usyk and the Champion Tyson Fury 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.
And, teasing an even more iconic evening of combat, he told talkSPORT: “It will be much bigger and the undercard will be much bigger.”
Former WBC champ Fury is understood to have banked around £85m for the original bout, with Usyk rumoured to have earned close to £30m.
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Those figures will now skyrocket – with the pair set to split £150m.
Usyk will control the lion’s share this time after he added the green and gold belt to his WBA, IBF and WBO crowns he put on the line first time around.
And Fury promoter Frank Warren has backed up the idea of the desert dream becoming an even more magnificent reality.
The Queensberry boss said: “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’s resilience in the ninth, when he was bounced all over the ring by Usyk blows but somehow refused to be felled by the pugilist lumberjack, defied logic.
And tough Usyk had a tooth implant impacted up into his gum after one of Fury’s thudding uppercuts.
Fury raced into the post-fight press conference full of hubris, while Usyk needed more time to recover and address the room.
‘I’M BOXING BECAUSE I LOVE IT’
And fans thought the 6ft 9in Brit might prefer an all-English shoot-out with Anthony Joshua or a peaceful retirement, instead of the rematch, by some of his quickfire comments.
The former champ said: “I’m not boxing because I’ve got no money, I’m boxing because I love it.
“I’m 36 in a few months, I’ve been boxing since I was a child. Where does it all end? You have 100 fights and you have brain damage and are in a wheelchair.
“For as long as I’m loving the game, I’ll continue to do it, and when I don’t, I’ll pack it up.”
Usyk will definitely enjoy a seven-month break instead of a rapid turnaround after he explained all the sacrifices he made to topple the giant.
He said: “I started camp in September 2023 and I worked for nine months.
“I missed New Year, I missed my son’s birthday, I missed my other son’s birthday, I missed my daughter’s birthday and I missed my daughter being born.
“I missed all my family holidays for training. My focus was only on this fight, now I’m happy and I want to go back home, go to my church and pray.”
For all the love for resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr
A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.
He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour.
But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine?
Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?
Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down?
He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.
The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this.
The rematch will be superb.
Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read Wally’s big fight verdict in full here…