Alexander Krassyuk has no objections to putting off the undisputed heavyweight championship for another month or two—so long as Tyson Fury can supply a legitimate excuse.

Krassyuk, the promoter of unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, indicated in an interview conducted the day after Fury narrowly outpointed former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that he would need to see some kind of doctor’s note from Fury showing why it would not be prudent for him to return to the ring on Dec. 23 to face Usyk for all four heavyweight belts.

The high profile fight between Fury and Usyk, also to be staged in Riyadh, was announced last month—despite the fact that Fury was still preparing for Ngannou—but a date conspicuously not attached. Several reports indicated that Dec. 23 was the tentative date, with the possibility that the fight could land in January.

Usyk and Co. have made it clear that Dec. 23 is their preferred date but that no longer seems likely after Fury’s tougher-than-expected tussle with Ngannou.

England’s Fury barely scraped by the MMA veteran and boxing novice with a split decision. Fury also survived a disastrous third round that saw him hit the canvas via Ngannou’s left hook.

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, moreover, ruled out Dec. 23, saying he wants Fury to rest for the remainder of the year. Warren even floated February as a potential date for the fight. Video interviews staged the day after showed a visibly bruised-up Fury. 

Krassyuk understands that Fury may need time to heal but, at the same time, does not want to be strung along by any of Fury's risk-averse tactics.

“We have a date in the contract but c’mon, we are reasonable people,” Krassyuk told SecondsOut. “If he is really injured and he is really unable to fight that might happen to any fighter.

“It has to be done in a proper way,” Krassyuk continued. “If he is really injured then there is some kind of medical procedure that certifies his injury. Then probably that’s OK. If it’s just they don’t want to fight Usyk because he is weak, and they don’t want to take risk, then it doesn't sound reasonable for me because you know why? What’s the difference between losing to Usyk on December 23 or losing to Usyk on January 17 or losing to Usyk, let's say, February 13th. there’s no significant difference. The sooner the better.”

Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.