We get into the details of the main event of 2023.

Alexander Usik and Tyson Fury dominate the heavyweight division and have long wanted to fight. It looks like it will happen in the coming months: the boxers agree, and their representatives are discussing the details.

Either Usik and Fury will fight before the beginning of March, or the fight will be postponed. The sides are in a hurry – because of the heat in Saudi Arabia and Ramadan

The possible Ussik vs. Fury fight in early 2023 has been discussed for a long time. Now the sides are actively negotiating the details, and Fury’s promoter Frank Warren revealed:

“We sent them [Usik’s team] a draft contract. We have to act very quickly now, because time is working against us. Where are they going to fight? Wherever they get paid more. I know a lot of people want to see this fight at Wembley – and so do I. But Mohammed Ali and George Foreman fought in Zaire, and then we had Thriller in Manila. You can also think of the high-profile fights in Jamaica.

They fought there because they got paid big money. These guys will do the same thing. I, like Tyson, want to do this fight in March and then arrange another one for him in the fall.”

Usik’s promoter, Alexander Krasyuk, confirmed that the fight is planned before March. And he explained why everyone is in such a hurry:

“I don’t want to go into details, but if you consider the fact that the fight will most likely take place in Saudi Arabia, then after March 4, given the climatic conditions, it will already be very difficult to do it in the open arena. Also in Arab countries Ramadan will start, and nobody will do anything during that period of time. If the fight is not held until March 4, it may take place only at the end of April or beginning of May.

If we drag out the organization of this fight, there will be cases with mandatory challengers. How are we going to work it out with them? Let’s just say the IBF can simply give a decision on the promoter’s bids and that’s it. In that case Usik and Fury will not fight for the absolute title or there will be no fight at all. That’s why the fight has to take place before March 4.

The fight between Fury and Usik is the most anticipated fight in the heavyweight division. A couple of years ago, it seemed like the division was teeming with tops and going through its best period. But Fury beat Wilder twice and Usik beat Joshua twice. They were no longer considered elite. So the fight for the outright championship became inevitable.

Fury’s retirement from the sport added to the fuss: On April 23 at Wembley, he knocked out Dillian Whyte and defended his WBC and The Ring world titles, and a few days later he announced his retirement from boxing.

“That’s enough. I’m happy. I’m healthy, I can think, I can talk. I have a beautiful wife, six children. I have plenty of titles and lots of money. Success, fame, a legacy. Why should I fight any more? For what?” – Fury murmured.

That’s his style: Fury had left boxing before, but he came back. In that, he’s similar to another Irishman, Conor McGregor. That’s why Fury’s departure seemed like a bluff. He himself hinted at a comeback and recorded a video message when Usik beat Anthony Joshua for the second time:

“I saw Joshua lose to Usik for the second time. England lost the titles, but there is a cure and a solution I can offer. If you want the titles back, send in the gypsy barbarian. I’ll strip that Ukrainian bum of his belts just like I did to the last Ukrainian bum. But it will cost you dearly.”

Fury wanted to keep the negotiations going, and on Dec. 3 he fought Derek Chisora — the third fight of his career. He won again, defended his WBC title for the third time and in the ring he took a sterdown with Usik. Then it became clear: the fight would happen.

Fury is the favorite to come out for a record fee. But Usik’s team doesn’t consider him more dangerous than Joshua: “We remember how it ended.”

Fury seems the favorite to fight Usik. He’s a natural two-meter heavyweight, very big, but also fast. Yes, Fury doesn’t have a knockout punch – nor does Usik. He’s hard to outbox, because he uses his strengths – speed and movement – perfectly. That’s also Usik’s strength, but Fury is much faster than Joshua.

Usik’s trainer Sergey Lapin is sure of the opposite: “Having seen Fury fight live, our team was convinced that Usik will win. Sasha will become the undisputed world champion and will bring the WBC belt to Ukraine. Fury is no more dangerous than Anthony Joshua. And we remember how it ended for Joshua.

Perhaps the negotiations were delayed because of the fees. The most expensive fight for Fury was with Dillian Whyte – then the fee was $33.6 million. At the same time, his opponent received $7.4 million. Now Fury has assured that the earnings from the fight with Usik will be a record for him in his career:

“To meet with Usik for an absolute is the best option. Not a difficult opponent, but a profitable one. I’m guaranteed to earn a lot more on such an event than on a fight with any other sausage. I think we’re talking about my earnings here being double the previous record fee.”

Nothing seems to be in the way of this fight. The last problem was the International Boxing Federation (IBF), which assigned Usik a fight against mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic. But IBF president Daryl Peeples reversed the decision.

Probably, Usik and Fury will step into the ring no later than March 4. After that the super featherweight will reach its peak – no existing pairing will interest the viewer more. Perhaps, except for the rematch – both boxers and the whole industry love them.