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Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter has suggested Filip Hrgovic will step in to replace Tyson Fury on February 17 with the IBF heavyweight belt on the line – raising the risk of a unification fight not happening in the future.
Fury and Usyk were set to go toe-to-toe this month in an undisputed heavyweight clash.
It was going to be the first time all four major heavyweight belts were scheduled to be put on the line this century.
But a cut Fury suffered in a sparring session during his training camp has meant the fight is being put on hold until later this year.
Alexander Krassyuk still wants Oleksandr Usyk to fight on February 17
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The Gypsy King will need a few months to fully recover while reports indicate they will now wait until the next Riyadh Season, which begins in October.
Usyk doesn’t want to waste another training camp though and is prepared to continue with plans to fight on February 17.
The Ukrainian’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, has admitted fighting IBF mandatory challenger Hrgovic is the only viable option.
But Usyk may be forced to give up the IBF belt if he opts to fight someone else in two weeks, meaning his future fight with Fury will no longer be for the undisputed title.
“Will Usyk be fighting on the 17th? We are working on that and in the next couple of days a final decision will be taken,” Krassyuk said on Instagram live.
“There is only one option because the IBF has sanctioned the undisputed fight on the condition that after this fight the champion has to fight the mandatory, which is Hrgovic.
“That means if the champion fights someone else, he will be stripped of his belt by the IBF.
“With Hrgovic, there is a slight chance.”
Tyson Fury will need several months to recover
Krassyuk himself raised his own concerns on whether the fight with Fury will ever happen.
Negotiations between Fury and Usyk originally took months before an agreement was made and the latest twist threatens to change things once again.
Krassyuk added: “If we speak about undisputed, it is still a question whether it will happen some day at all?
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Tyson Fury suffered the cut in sparring
“We have tried so many times to make it and the more people doubt it will ever take place.
“Let’s hope, let’s pray. Of course we wish Tyson a soonest recovery and hopefully next time nothing will stop him taking punishment from Usyk.”
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