Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight the second instalment of their heavyweight rivalry this year, but not in October as previously reported.

The pair delivered a technical and thrilling fight fitting for the first undisputed match-up in the division since 1999. Although Fury found key successes in the middle rounds, it was the incredible engine and pinpoint accuracy of Usyk that scored him a ninth round knockdown and ultimately won it on the cards.

The Brit has officially activated his rematch clause and the promotion had previously pencilled in October 12 as the date. Speaking on TNT Sports, Frank Warren explained why it was now December 21.

“I’m very excited about it. It was an unbelievable fight the first one, the biggest fight of the 21st century. An unbelievable heavyweight fight, nothing in it. They never left anything in the ring, they both gave it their all and the want to dance again so that’s gonna happen.

It’s been pushed back cause one of them, not Tyson but Usyk, sustained an injury which [means] he won’t be fit before then. But that’s the perfect date for it, give them both time to recuperate from a very tough fight.”

There was talk of an injury to Usyk’s jaw post-fight, but it’s so far unclear if that’s what is preventing him from entering training camp sooner.

Now that the date is set, the question turns to whether or not it will be for all four heavyweight titles again. The IBF was initially expected to strip Usyk straightaway given the contract won’t allow him to face mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic, but his team have applied for an exception to this ruling.

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes the belt will still be come vacant, and is targeting it for his man Anthony Joshua in September.