Oleksandr Usyk expressed his desire for the heavyweight showdown against Tyson Fury to take place in February, according to manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Originally scheduled for December 23 in Saudi Arabia, the bout was postponed after Fury's challenging exhibition with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Fury's team believed he required additional preparation time to face Usyk.

When questioned about his preferred timing for the fight, Usyk conveyed to Reuters through an interpreter, "I would very much like it to be in February. I was ready for the 23rd, but due to Fury's injuries in the last fight, a knockdown occurred, so it will likely be postponed to next year."

Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, stood firm that his client wouldn't step into the ring on the initially scheduled December date. Taking charge after the Ngannou fight, Warren explained on BBC Radio 5 Live, "Tyson can't go into a camp after a tough fight like that. That's eight weeks away. He needs at least some time to let his body heal and get back into shape. It will be early next year."

The anticipation for Fury's bout with Usyk is high, as both fighters have undefeated records, making it the 'undisputed' clash. Despite the rescheduling, Usyk remains confident, stating, "I'll focus on more technical work. Technically, nothing changes. I just have a bit more time for additional tasks, and that's it. I don't think about Fury; I think about myself, my team, my family. I just need to be with him, fight, and that's it. Everything I do today—my achievements, victories, efforts—is focused on honoring my country and my family."