Tyson Fury’s huge unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk has been REVIVED, with fight now scheduled for May 18… and both heavyweights will have to cough up £8m if they pull out

Tyson Fury’s undisputed title clash with Oleksandr Usyk will now take place on May 18 in Riyadh.

The highly anticipated fight was due to take place on February 17, but was postponed after Fury suffered an injury during training.

The Gypsy King suffered a serious cut above his right eye during sparring on Friday, which his promotional team has labeled a ‘freak cut’.

The nasty wound required stitches, leading to the postponement of the undisputed heavyweight bout.

Fans were devastated by the news and took to social media to wonder if the fight would ever happen.

His Excellency Turki Alslshik said both fighters have pledged to forfeit £8 million if they withdraw from the fight

Alslshik also said he wanted Fury to fight Anthony Joshua (pictured) if Usyk pulls out of the May 18 fight, while Usyk can fight whoever he wants if the Gypsy King does so a second time.

However, His Excellency Turki Alslshik has confirmed that the undisputed heavyweight title fight will now take place in Saudi Arabia on May 18.

He revealed that both fighters promised to forfeit ten million dollars if they withdrew from the fight, and that he wanted Fury to fight Anthony Joshua if Usyk withdrew from the fight within three months.

He told The MMA Hour: “We have postponed this fight until May 18th, I have guaranteed both fighters 10 million if anyone escapes the fight. I also guarantee a big fight on the same night.

“I will let fans around the world know if anyone is scared of this fight. If Usyk is scared I will call up (Anthony) Joshua-Tyson, if Tyson is scared I will call up another fighter who wants Usyk. I don’t want them to fight in front of the fans, but on May 18 we will have an answer.”

Meanwhile, Fury – who was sitting next to His Excellency – said: ‘Sparring yesterday morning, agreed to spar for 12 rounds with four different guys. In round five I got an elbow in the eye, went to the hospital and got eleven stitches. Nothing can be done about the cuts, something is happening.”

He added: “I was very disappointed, I trained in Saudi Arabia for five weeks and everything went fantastic.

“It’s a cut you can’t do anything about and these things happen sometimes in camp. I know His Excellency has spent a lot of money on promotion, there is nothing anyone can do. It is the will of God.’

Fury said after the fight was postponed: ‘I’m absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such great shape.

‘I feel sorry for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work hard on the new date once the eye has healed.

WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT

This is the nasty tear above Tyson Fury’s right eye that forced the fight to be postponed

Fury (left) was originally scheduled to fight Usyk on February 17 before the news broke on Friday

Fury sparring with Moses Itauma (7-0) Kevin Lerena (30-2) and Alexis Barriere (11-0)

“I can only apologize to all those affected, including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners and fans, as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Usyk’s team goaded Fury after the news, with his promoter Alexander Krassyuk writing to him with a subtle dig.

“I wish you a speedy recovery,” he said in response to Fury’s message. ‘God has sent you a sign. Think of retirement brother.’

Meanwhile, Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas went on a brutal X-rated tirade, saying Fury would ‘do anything not to face the IBF, WBA and WBO champion’.

He is quoted by Ring Magazine as saying, “Fury is a coward who will do anything not to face Usyk, and he asked his dick to hit him in the forehead with a frying pan. You can quote me word for word for that.’

Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk couldn’t resist the chance to goad Fury after the news

However, the fight will go ahead, with Queensberry Promotions confirming the news on social media.

The postponement was the latest setback for the showdown between the pair, who were due to fight this time last year before both men walked away from negotiations – despite Usyk agreeing to a 70-30 split in favor of the Gypsy King – when Fury asked to remove the second chance clause.

Fury’s cut was on the same right eye, which required 47 stitches in 2019 after a nasty cut caused by Otto Wallin.

In that fight, Fury was caught by a series of Wallins hooks and was left with a nasty laceration above his right eye.