Negotiations have reportedly already begun between the camps of unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 20-0 (13) and WBC titlist Tyson Fury 32-0-1 (23) for a rare four belt unification bout.
Ukrainian southpaw Usyk, 35, successfully defended his WBA, WBO and IBF belts against Anthony Joshua 24-3 (22) on points in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Britain’s Fury, 34, has been flip-flopping on retirement since his April win over mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte. But it seems he fancies his chances against former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk, setting his own deadline of one week to make the fight.
“For all these suitors out there that want to make the fight, I’m going to give you all seven days until September 1st to come up with the money. If not, thank you very much, it’s been a blast, I’m retired,” Fury posted on his social media channels.
“All offers submitted must be to my lawyer Robert Davis in writing with proof of funds. So let the games begin. Boom!”
The fight would likely take place in Saudi Arabia, a country that has mad massive financial bids to secure high-profile fights in recent years.
The Daily Mail reported that the Saudi minister for sport Prince Mohammad Abdulaziz said: “We are very interested in the fight.”
The working date is December 17 in Riyadh. With the 2022 FIFA World Cup final set to take place the following day in the neighbouring country of Qatar, the date makes sense.
The WBC gave Fury a deadline of August 26 to decide if he was going to continue boxing or if he wanted to relinquish the Mexican sanctioning body’s belt.
Fury officially renounced his Ring magazine title in the week leading up to Usyk-Joshua II.
“Tyson Fury is a unique man, his personality, his thinking is unique so I respect that, I respect him,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports.
“He has been so loyal to the WBC, he has been so representative and proud of the WBC. I just hope that he makes the right decision, whichever it is. If he decides to hang up the gloves and retire, what a great way to do it, with money, with health, with his beautiful family.
“But if he has that hunger of going into the ring, which I believe is the case, it would be great to see him represent the WBC in a fight with Usyk or other championship fights he could have in the near future.”
“Tyson Fury is the WBC champion of the world, he’s not holding the ‘other belt’, he’s holding the WBC championship which is the championship of Muhammed Ali, George Foreman, [Joe] Frazier, [Mike] Tyson, Lennox Lewis, etc.
“I’m very proud of Tyson Fury, he’s a tremendous fighter and I am sure he wishes to continue boxing and a fight to unify all the championships in the division would be tremendous.
“We have given Tyson Fury the time to evaluate and be ready to make a proper decision and have until this Friday, on the 26th, to receive his written confirmation of what he will be deciding to do.
“But my personal opinion is that boxing is going through a great stage, a great moment, it will be great to see Fury against Usyk in the ultimate unification of the division.”
