Connect with us

Sports

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk potential undisputed heavyweight title bout could be finalised this year

Published

on

theheute-

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman believes Tyson Fury has the ‘hunger’ to return against Oleksandr Usyk and the governing body would welcome an ‘ultimate unification’ fight before the end of the year.

The governing body have asked Fury to confirm whether he intends to continue as WBC heavyweight champion by this Friday after the 34-year-old announced his desire to retire from the sport.

But Fury has since declared his intention to resume his career with a fight against Usyk, who retained his WBA, IBF and WBO belts with a split decision win over Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
“Tyson Fury is a unique man, his personality, his thinking is unique so I respect that, I respect him,” Sulaiman told Sky Sports.

“He has been so loyal to the WBC, he has been so representative and proud of the WBC.

Advertisement

“I just hope that he makes the right decision, whichever it is.

“If he decides to hang up the gloves and retire, what a great way to do it, with money, with health, with his beautiful family.
“But if he has that hunger of going into the ring, which I believe is the case, it would be great to see him represent the WBC in a fight with Usyk or other championship fights he could have in the near future.”

Usyk previously became undisputed champion at cruiserweight and has sought to repeat this feat at heavyweight, calling out Fury in the aftermath of his rematch triumph over Joshua.

ALSO READ  SERAP sues Tinubu over alleged missing $15b, N200b oil funds

“I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet,” said Usyk.

“I’m sure, I’m convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him and if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.”

Advertisement

Sulaiman is open to the prospect of an undisputed fight, saying: “Tyson Fury is the WBC champion of the world, he’s not holding the ‘other belt’, he’s holding the WBC Championship which is the Championship of Muhammed Ali, George Foreman, Frazier, Tyson, Lennox Lewis etc.

“I’m very proud of Tyson Fury, he’s a tremendous fighter and I am sure he wishes to continue boxing and a fight to unify all the championships in the division would be tremendous.

“We have given Tyson Fury the time to evaluate and be ready to make a proper decision and have until this Friday, on the 26th, to receive his written confirmation of what he will be deciding to do.

“But my personal opinion is that boxing is going through a great stage, a great moment, it will be great to see Fury against Usyk in the ultimate unification of the division.”

Asked about a likely timeframe for a Fury vs Usyk fight, Sulaiman said: “We are in August, there is still time to finalise and close up the year, or early next year.

Advertisement

“If that fight takes place it’s a momentous, huge event, wherever it takes place, and I would need a good time for preparation for proper marketing and for them to both get mentally and physically ready for such a great fight.”

ALSO READ  Bhaddie Kelly: Ghanaian boys go crazy over Togolese TikToker for being 'perfect' (VIDEOS)

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

El-Kanemi warriors attacked by armed robbers on Jos-Bauchi road

Published

on

El-Kanemi Warriors attacked by armed robbers

El-Kanemi Warriors players and officials were attacked by armed robbers on the Jos-Bauchi road, leaving several injured and valuables stolen.

 

 

Players and officials of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club, El-Kanemi Warriors, were victims of an armed robbery on Saturday morning while travelling along the Jos-Bauchi road.

The team was en route to Maiduguri after their 2-0 defeat to Ikorodu City in a matchday 14 fixture in Lagos on Wednesday.

Advertisement

 

Also read: Some Super Eagles players not good enough – Sports Minister

 

Reports indicate that the attackers left several members of the squad injured, with some requiring immediate medical attention. The robbers stole valuables, including mobile phones and cash, before fleeing the scene.

The injured players and officials were quickly transported to a nearby hospital in Bauchi for treatment. While the extent of their injuries is not fully disclosed, it is understood that the team is receiving the necessary care.

In light of the attack, El-Kanemi Warriors were scheduled to host Bayelsa United in Maiduguri on Sunday, but the match is now expected to be postponed by the NPFL due to the traumatic incident and the team’s current situation.

Advertisement

This attack has raised concerns about the safety of players and officials during away games in the league, particularly in regions with known security risks.

Continue Reading

Sports

Chris Sutton criticises Kylian Mbappe after Real Madrid’s loss to Liverpool

Published

on

Kylian Mbappe criticised after Real Madrid loss

Kylian Mbappe faces harsh criticism from Chris Sutton after Real Madrid’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool, with questions over his form and impact.

 

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has strongly criticised Kylian Mbappe following Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The French star’s struggles continued as he missed a crucial second-half penalty, leaving fans and pundits questioning his impact at the LaLiga giants.

 

Advertisement

Also read: Kylian Mbappe fit for Champions League clash with Lille

 

Liverpool took the lead early on and sealed the victory when Cody Gakpo’s powerful header from a corner doubled their advantage.

Although Mohamed Salah also missed a penalty for Liverpool, his side’s commanding performance overshadowed the missed opportunity.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton did not hold back in his analysis of Mbappe’s performance. “At this moment in time, there is something missing for Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid, which will be a real conundrum for Carlo Ancelotti,” Sutton remarked.

The former Celtic and Chelsea striker added: “Let’s get it right. He had a stinker tonight. Missed the penalty and was miles off it. Him going there was supposed to take them to the next level.”

Advertisement

Mbappe’s tough debut season at Real Madrid has raised concerns about his ability to adapt to the pressures of playing for the Spanish giants.

Fans and analysts alike are debating whether Carlo Ancelotti can reignite the spark that made Mbappe one of the most sought-after talents in football.

ALSO READ  Nigeria’s inflation rate drops to 32.15% in August 2024

Continue Reading

Sports

Manchester City blow three-goal lead as Champions League drama unfolds

Published

on

Manchester City Champions League draw

Manchester City shockingly blow a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord, while PSG faces elimination after Bayern’s 1-0 win in the Champions League.

 

 

In a dramatic night of Champions League football, Manchester City’s struggles continued as Pep Guardiola’s side astonishingly blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord.

This setback came despite City being in firm control at the Etihad Stadium, where they sought to break a five-game losing streak in all competitions.

Advertisement

 

Also read: Man City close in on €40m deal for Chelsea’s Kovacic

 

City had looked comfortable after Erling Haaland’s penalty just before half-time and a deflected shot from Ilkay Gundogan in the 50th minute.

Haaland added a second, making it 3-0, but Feyenoord launched a remarkable comeback starting with Anis Hadj Moussa’s goal in the 75th minute.

Santiago Gimenez scored again in the 82nd minute, and with just a minute left, Igor Paixao crossed for David Hancko to head in the equaliser, leaving Guardiola frustrated.

Advertisement

“We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable,” Guardiola said after the match. “We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory.”

The draw is a historic one for Feyenoord, marking the first time in Champions League history that a team has avoided defeat after trailing by three goals in the final 20 minutes.

The point boosts Feyenoord’s hopes of progressing, while City now sit two points outside the top eight, which ensures direct qualification for the knockout stages.

ALSO READ  Ijebu Ode residents hold rally for Tobi Amusan

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain has put the French side in serious danger of elimination.

South Korean defender Kim Min-jae’s header before half-time was enough for Bayern, while PSG’s woes were compounded by Ousmane Dembele’s second-half red card.

Advertisement

PSG now have just four points from five matches and sit in 26th place, a point behind the qualification spots for the knockout round.

“We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated,” PSG coach Luis Enrique admitted after the match.

In other Champions League action, Barcelona secured a 3-0 win over Brest, with Robert Lewandowski scoring his 100th and 101st goals in the competition, making him only the third player in history to reach such a milestone.

Inter Milan, who remain undefeated, beat RB Leipzig 1-0 to top the group with 13 points, one ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool.

Arsenal continued their strong campaign with a 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon, as Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Magalhaes scored in the first half, followed by a penalty from Bukayo Saka and a late header from Leandro Trossard.

Advertisement

Atalanta thrashed Young Boys 6-1, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring twice.

Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 5-0 win against Red Bull Salzburg, with Florian Wirtz netting a brace, and Atletico Madrid demolished Sparta Prague 6-0, with Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa each bagging two goals.

AC Milan edged past Slovan Bratislava 3-2, with Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, and Tammy Abraham all getting on the scoresheet.

ALSO READ  Giroud to quit int’l football after Euro 2024

The night of high drama saw both thrills and spills, with several clubs edging closer to securing their spots in the knockout stages, while others face mounting pressure to avoid an early exit.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 TheHeute.