Days before he was supposed to fight former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Usyk's heavyweight debut, Tyrone Spong has tested positive for a recent drug test.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced on social media that VADA discovered an adverse finding in a drug test, meaning that Spong is out of the fight, set to headline the October 12 DAZN card from Chicago. As such, Matchroom Boxing announced that Chazz Witherspoon, a 38-year-old pro fighter with a 38-3 record and on an eight-fight win streak, will replace Spong as Usyk's opponent.
We have been contacted by VADA to inform us that there has been an adverse finding in Tyrone Spong’s test. It has been sent to the State of Illinois commission and further information will be released in the morning. We have reserve opponents standing by.
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) October 7, 2019
According to BoxingScene.com, Spong’s “A” sample showed an adverse finding of Clomiphene. That fight fell through after Takam signed with Star Boxing Promotions, which led to Spong getting the nod to fight Usyk.
The card will continue as originally planned, with two world title fights previously announced. The first one is a WBC and WBA Female junior welterweight title fight between Jessica McCaskill and Erica Farias and other is a WBA light heavyweight title bout between Dmitry Bivol and Lenin Castillo.
