Why didn't Tyson Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk? Cancellation explained

The two men and their teams later stated they were expecting to finalise a fight for the spring but, in March 2023, Usyk’s team confirmed the collapse of any talks.

With new Netflix show At Home with the Furys exploring the highs and lows of Fury's life both in and out of the boxing ring, naturally thoughts are turning towards his next fight, as well as those that were recently scrapped.

So why hasn't the Gypsy King fought Usyk yet and will the world heavyweight title unification fight ever go ahead? Read on to find out.

Why didn't Tyson Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk? Cancellation explained

One of the factors which initially prevented the fight from going ahead was settling on the location.

Saudi Arabia was heavily suggested as a host earlier in 2023, but ultimately Wembley Stadium was put forward as the venue for a proposed April bout.

However, it didn't happen, with the conditions of a potential rematch cited as the sticking point.

Usyk had agreed a 70/30 revenue split in Fury's favour for the first fight, but there was said to be a disagreement over the split in a follow-up bout should there be one.

Speaking in March, Fury claimed that Usyk's camp had been trying to insert a rematch clause, saying on social media: "Here's one to up the ante – how about there is no rematch clause for both of us? Let's up the ante completely.

"Never worry about what's in the future or how many more dollars you can get after you've been defeated. Worry about the fight.

"No rematch clause. Winner takes the glory, the loser goes home. How about that? Agree to that."

However, Usyk denied this was the case, and claimed that it was Fury's team delaying due to rematch clauses.

"Very much, the clause comes from your side, not mine. Stop whining and ducking," he responded.

"Be a man. Ink the contract or vacate the belt. I need undisputed – and not to play your stupid games."

The pair and their teams have traded barbs since, with Usyk suggesting to Sky Sports that Fury is "afraid" of facing him and Fury accusing his opponent of "running so fast, he can't get away from me quick enough".

Will Fury fight Usyk?

Frank Warren has said a fight between Usyk and Fury is “being planned for early next year” - despite the threat of a Daniel Dubois rematch.

Usyk retained the unified heavyweight titles against Dubois on Saturday night (26th August), in a hugely controversial fight in Poland.

The Ukranian secured victory by technical knockout in the ninth round against Dubois, who felt aggrieved when the referee ruled his body shot in the fifth round to be a low blow, after catching Usyk near his belly button.

Many, including Warren, who promotes Dubois and Fury, spoke out against the decision, with Warren later confirming he will lobby the WBA to change the result to a no-contest or order an immediate rematch.

Asked whether that rematch, if it goes ahead, would ruin any plans for a bout between Usyk and Fury, Warren said on talkSPORT: "Well no really because that fight [between Fury and Usyk], we were talking about doing that fight early next year and that is still the plan.

"The plan was that the winner of the fight on Saturday was to fight Tyson [Fury] early next year. So that won't go on before then.

"Because of what the bigger picture is, you can't just cast aside Daniel's situation. He was unfairly treated there."

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