BOXING

Reignited: Fury vs Usyk 2 date confirmed

The date has been confirmed for the rematch of rematches, where Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury hammer it out for the top prize in sports

FAYEZ NURELDINEAFP

You ever notice how the world of boxing just loves a rematch? It’s like that old diner down the street—you’ve been there a hundred times, but you keep going back because something about it just feels right. Well, here we are again, folks, with the gloves coming off and the punches flying high as Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are set to square off once more. The date’s circled on the calendar: December 21. The place? Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is the sequel we’ve all been waiting for, and boy, does it feel like we’re about to see fireworks again.

The first time these two met in the ring, back in May, it was a split decision that left everyone buzzing. Usyk walked away with the win, but not without Fury putting up the kind of fight that makes you remember why you love this sport in the first place. Now, we’re getting a second helping, thanks to the man behind the curtain, Turki Alalshikh. He’s been pulling the strings, making sure that Riyadh is the new boxing capital of the world—or at least trying to make it so. Forget the old haunts like the UK or the USA. We’re all headed to Saudi Arabia now.

This rematch is more than just a chance for Fury to reclaim his WBC title—it’s a shot at redemption. You can bet your bottom dollar that he’s been counting the days until he can step back into that ring and put on a show. And if he wins? The doors swing wide open for another big British showdown, this time against Anthony Joshua. But first, AJ’s got his own mountain to climb in the form of Daniel Dubois in London next month. If everything falls into place, the boxing world might just get the all-British heavyweight clash it’s been dreaming of.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. The undercard’s shaping up to be just as exciting as the main event. Take Martin Bakole, for instance. This guy made waves when he floored Jared Anderson in Los Angeles earlier this month. He’s got his eyes on the top spot, and with Alalshikh’s backing, who knows? Maybe we’ll see Bakole make a return to the ring come December. After all, the man himself said, “I want to be No.1. No one wants to fight me.” Well, if that’s true, then someone’s going to have to step up eventually.

Alalshikh, being the heavyweight aficionado that he is, seems keen on making Bakole vs. Zhilei Zhang a reality. That’s the kind of match that could steal the show. But there’s still a lot up in the air, and with five months to go until the big night, anything can happen. But one thing’s for sure—Riyadh Season is setting itself up to be the epicenter of boxing, with three massive fights lined up over the next few months.

Aside from Usyk vs. Fury 2, we’ve got Anthony Joshua facing off against Daniel Dubois in London this September. Then, in October, Dmitri Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are slated to duke it out in Riyadh. It’s like a buffet of boxing for fans, and each dish promises to be more mouth-watering than the last. But the cherry on top is that Riyadh Season isn’t just content with hosting fights—they’re making waves across the pond too, partnering up with Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank for events in the US.

So there you have it, folks. Mark your calendars and stock up on popcorn, because this December, we’re in for a treat. Usyk vs. Fury 2 is locked and loaded, and the stage is set for what could be one of the most memorable nights in recent boxing history. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see some new faces on the undercard that’ll make us sit up and take notice. After all, in boxing, there’s always a surprise waiting in the wings.

Most viewed

More news