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Tyson Fury revealed during his post-fight interview Saturday night that he’ll need some time to deal with two injuries in the aftermath of his dominant victory over Dereck Chisora.
“I’ve gotta do some stuff,” Fury told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel in the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. “I’ve got some hand problems and I’ve gotta maybe have some surgery on me elbow. But after that, I’m ready for anybody.”
Fury’s injuries could push back the date for his return to the ring, which the unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion hopes will come against Oleksandr Usyk. Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, informed BoxingScene.com a few weeks before Fury fought Chisora that he and Frank Warren, Fury’s other co-promoter, intended to match Fury versus Usyk either late in February or early in March at an undetermined country in the Middle East.
Arum indicated that Fury-Usyk would have to take place during that time frame because financial backers from a Middle Eastern country wouldn’t be able to host the fight during Ramadan. The Muslim month for fasting, prayer and reflection is scheduled to begin March 22 and end April 21.
The 34-year-old Fury’s surgery on his elbow could postpone a potential showdown with Usyk until sometime after Ramadan ends, unless their full heavyweight title unification fight is held outside of the Middle East.
“We’ll see,” Fury said. “Like I say, we’ll see when we’ll be ready for this fight. We’ll see when it can be made.”
The undefeated Fury talked trash to Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) once the IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO champion stepped up on the ring apron after Fury stopped Chisora in a predictably one-sided optional title defense. Usyk looked intensely into Fury’s eyes, but the former undisputed cruiserweight champion didn’t say anything as Fury theatrically called him out.
Fury also mentioned London’s Joe Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs), the WBO interim champion, as a potential opponent if a fight with Usyk cannot be put together.
While Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) is certain he needs surgery to repair his right elbow, he wasn’t as sure about the extent of the damage done to his right hand during his easy win against London’s Chisora (33-13, 23 KOs).
“I sort of like f—– me hands up tonight on Dereck’s big head,” Fury said. “It’s solid as a brick. And I’ve got like some elbow problems. I’ve gotta maybe have surgery on me right elbow. Just on the right [elbow]. I had the left [elbow] done back in October [2021], after the [third Deontay Wilder] fight. So, I’ve gotta have it done. It’ll take about six to eight weeks to heal.”
Manchester’s Fury still wants to fight three times in 2023, whenever and wherever those bouts might take place.
“Listen, I’m very, very open and easy, open and easy to wherever these fights are gonna be,” Fury said. “Me and [trainer Javon Steward] have worked hard and long for this fight. We didn’t underestimate Dereck Chisora. We put it in and we got the result tonight. And you know what? We’re gonna go back to the gym, and onto the next one in March, April. Whenever it’s gonna be, we’ll be ready to rock and roll.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.