Tyson Fury's long-awaited undisputed heavyweight fight with Oleksandr Usyk will finally take place in Riyadh on February 17.
The boxers will unveil plans for the multi-million-pound super-fight in Saudi Arabia in London on Thursday night after months of negotiations between both parties.
The fight has been on-off for some time before both men finally agreed terms in September - a month ahead of Fury’s return to the ring against Francis Ngannou.
The WBC heavyweight champion came out far more battered and bruised from that contest than anticipated so the proposed December 23 date to take on Usyk was shifted.
A new February fight date between the pair will be officially announced at a press conference in the capital on Thursday.
The original December date has been replaced by what is instead being billed ‘The Day of Reckoning’, with a stacked card of fights.
It will see Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder fighting on the same card and sharing equal billing, against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively. Also on the undercard are the likes of Daniel Dubois, Dmitry Bivol and Lyndon Arthur.
The fight night is seen as a stepping stone for a long-awaited heavyweight encounter between Joshua and Wilder, with both fighters keen to finalise full terms in the coming weeks should they come through their respective bouts unscathed and victorious as anticipated.
Of the prospect of a lucrative fight against Wilder, Joshua said: “Nothing’s signed and sealed but conversations are definitely happening.
“I believe I will be a three-time heavyweight champion of the world. I’m determined to win and I’m determined to get back to my peak, if that’s what they want to call it.”
The December fights are a cross-promotion between the likes of Top Rank, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and his long-time promoting sparring partner Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.
Meanwhile, Wilder said of plans to come up against Joshua early next year: “It’s good to be in the same room with him. To see him face to face. It’s been a long time coming.
"I wish you nothing but the best bro. Hopefully soon we can get it on. I believe it’s going to happen, it’s about that time.
“I don’t think I have to call out any opponent or names or whatever at this moment in time though. At this moment in time, my mind is solely set on Joseph Parker. That’s it.”
