From the Rumble in the Jungle to Fury v Usyk, how boxing super-fights can vanish in an instant

When a big fight gets postponed, there is no guarantee that it will be rescheduled or ever take place.

Last Friday, Tyson Fury was cut on his right eyelid by a wayward elbow, in a routine breakfast sparring session, and his heavyweight unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk was off. There was no debate – it was a deep gash. The $100m (£80m) payday on 17 February was gone.

Fury soon provided proof of the cut and the 11 stitches, but people in the boxing. It was a preposterous day; Fury retained his dignity; Usyk held his tongue.