Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, says WBC champion Tyson Fury is bound to move forward with a planned undisputed fight.
On Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Fury barely overcame MMA veteran Francis Ngannou to win a close ten round split decision in a high profile crossover boxing match.
Usyk, the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO champion, was ringside for the contest.
The unified beltholder, like most in attendance, was shocked when Fury was dropped in the third round.
In what many had expected to be a one-sided wipeout became a very competitive boxing match.
Fury came away with a bruised left eye, a cut on his forehead from an Ngannou uppercut, and he took a lot more punishment than anticipated.
The judges saw it 95-94 and 96-93 for Fury, while the third judge had Ngannou as the winner with a tally of 95-94.
After the fight, Usyk entered the ring and went face to face with Fury. A few weeks ago, the handlers for both boxers had announced that a deal was finalized for December 23, in Saudi Arabia. Both boxers have signed contracts for the fight.
Because Fury had taken more bumps and bruises than expected, he may need more time to prepare.
Krassyuk believes Fury had taken Ngannou very lightly by focusing too much on the big payday he received for the bout and not focusing enough on training camp,
“Everyone, including Usyk, did not give much chance to Ngannou. But the man has shocked the world. Fury underestimated his opponent. Arrogance, lack of discipline, and thirst for money lead to these kind of circumstances. But we have December 23 inked and Fury cannot escape that,” Krassyuk told Sky Sports.