London ¨C WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury said he might need elbow surgery, potentially delaying a unification showdown with Ukrainian rival Oleksandr Usyk early next year.
The Briton scored a 10th-round stoppage of title challenger Derek Chisora on Saturday and said after the fight that his right elbow is the problem.
¡°I¡¯ve got some hand problems and I¡¯ve got to maybe have some surgery on my elbow but after that, I¡¯m ready for anybody,¡± he said.
¡°I had the left (elbow) done back in October (2021) after the Wilder III fight, so I¡¯ve got to have it done. It will take about six to eight weeks to heal.
¡°We¡¯ll see when we¡¯ll be ready for this fight, we¡¯ll see when it can be made.¡±
Fury said his promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren had talked of a potential clash with Usyk, the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO champion, towards the end of February or in March.
Adding to the uncertainty, the undefeated WBC champion told reporters at a post-fight news conference that he felt great and was looking forward to a ¡°massive 2023.¡±
Fury taunted Usyk, who was ringside for the fight at London¡¯s Tottenham Hotspur stadium, and challenged him to get the fight on.
The Briton also said he would take on his undefeated compatriot Joe Joyce, the 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight silver medalist, at Wembley if the Usyk fight could not be made.
¡°I just think I can beat anybody,¡± Fury said. ¡°There¡¯s no stopping me, I¡¯m on a roll. I¡¯m going to be match fit going into the next fight, can¡¯t wait,¡± he told ESPN.
¡°Whoever¡¯s next will get knocked out as well.¡±
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