Tyson Fury’s Elbow Surgery Won’t Derail Oleksandr Usyk Fight

Tyson Fury retained his WBC heavyweight championship with a 10th-round TKO win over long-time rival Derek Chisora, improving his record to 33-0-1 (24 KOs) on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Chisora, meanwhile, suffered his 13th career defeat and his third loss to Fury.

Fury’s Elbow Injury and Surgery Plans

Following the fight, Fury told ESPN: “I may need surgery on my right elbow. I had the left one done, so I’ll need to get this one fixed. It’ll take about six to eight weeks to heal. We’ll see when we can be ready for this fight.”

However, in the post-fight press conference, Fury reassured fans that his elbow issue would not hinder the undisputed title clash with Ukraine’s three-belt holder Oleksandr Usyk. Fury confirmed that he would be “ready” and “fit” to enter the highly anticipated bout in the first quarter of 2023.

Fury Confirms Readiness for Usyk Clash

“I’m ready and willing to take on Usyk next,” Fury said. “Let’s give the fans one champion, one name, one face.”

IBF Mandatory Situation Resolved

A potential obstacle for the Fury-Usyk showdown was the IBF mandatory challenger situation, with the IBF calling Filip Hrgovic as the mandatory contender to Usyk last month. However, promoter Frank Warren clarified that the IBF mandatory would not be an issue.

Instead, the WBA is first in the rotation system for Usyk’s title defenses, and the WBA has approved the undisputed fight in the best interest of boxing, clearing the way for Fury vs. Usyk to happen next.