If you're a fight fan then the last few days have felt like a waking nightmare, after the long-awaited undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk was postponed.
The bout was originally scheduled to take place on February 17 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, ESPN's Mike Coppinger sent out a tweet no one wanted to read confirming via his sources that the fight was off.
Given the hype and the money that's already gone into this event, it's no exaggeration to label this turn of events disastrous for the sport.
MORE: The best heavyweights in boxing, featuring Fury, Usyk, Joshua, Wilder
Why has Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk been called off?
Coppinger's tweet made for grim reading.
"Tyson Fury suffered a severe cut today while sparring that required stitches and his undisputed heavyweight championship fight with Oleksandr Usyk, scheduled for Feb. 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed, sources tell ESPN."
With Fury sustaining a cut that requires stitches there's just no way that he can fight in two weeks. While the wound should be healing by that point, the flesh would still be fragile and could reopen with the lightest of blows.
The situation is very similar to the delay that befell the original date for George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali in 1974. That bout was delayed by six weeks when Foreman was cut by an elbow in sparring.
Like his fans and boxing watchers around the world, Fury's disappointment at the news was palpable in a statement posted by the fight promoters on X (formerly twitter).
I'm absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition — Tyson Fury
"I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date when the eye has healed. I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts any my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
FURY VS USYK STATEMENT pic.twitter.com/z7nf4Q3N70
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) February 2, 2024
WATCH: Live boxing action available on DAZN
New date set for Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Despite the initial panic from fight fans, the undisputed heavyweight clash will go ahead, with a new date of May 18 set for the historic fight.
"We have a new fight date," said Fury on his official Instagram account.
"Massive shoutout to Turki Alalshakh for making this new date possible so quick. In life, sometimes sh_tty thing happen, but you never let it get to you. You always keep moving forward. Look at that b_stard right there [shows cut]. Nice little elbow right in the eye nearly cost me the biggest fight of my life, but what can you do? Shit happens.
"Usyk is crying his eyes out: 'Tyson should retire', or he wants to retire. No retirement here, mother f__ker! You're getting knocked out! Knocked spark out. May 18th, the new date, live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Season. I just thought I'd let you know what time it was."
MORE: Did Jai Opetaia knock down Tyson Fury in sparring session?
Will Usyk still fight on February 17?
With the new date for Fury vs. Usyk set for mid-May, it is unlikely that Usyk would consider taking another fight three months before this.
Instead, he will no doubt ramp up his training regime, as he prepares to compete in the first undisputed heavyweight championship fight in a quarter of a century.
