Saudis tells Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk exactly how much they will forfeit if they pull out
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have been warned they face a huge financial penalty if they pull out of their undisputed heavyweight fight.
Fury suffered a nasty cut in sparring forcing the scheduled clash in February to be delayed.
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A new date of May 18 has already been announced, meaning the Gypsy King has around three months for it to heal.
On Saturday, Fury, Usyk and Turki Alalshikh (chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who are staging the fight) joined journalist Ariel Helwani on the to confirm the new date on a live stream.
He also handed out a warning about the penalties should one of the fighters pull out.
He said: “There will be $10m [£8m] (to be paid) if someone escapes from the fight (from their own money).”
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If Fury pulls out, then Usyk will get to fight an opponent of his choosing.
Meanwhile, if the Ukrainian were to withdraw then the Saudis want to make Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
A statement from Fury on Friday said: "I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition.
"I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.
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"I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
The fight will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era and first since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
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