The proposed bout between WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 20-0 (13) and WBC counterpart Tyson Fury 33-0-1 (24) has fallen apart amid recriminations from both sides.
The bout was being negotiated for April 29 at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Usyk is expected to fight his mandatory Daniel Dubois 19-1 (18) while Fury’s future plans are unknown.
“The fight is called off. The reason for that is it went too far. There was a feeling that after Usyk accepted 70-30 [purse split], Tyson Fury started thinking that he could put a saddle around his neck and start riding Usyk as much as he can,” Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk said to talkSPORT.
“It’s not right. I mean, Usyk accepted the 70-30 split as a courtesy. He was so loyal and he was so willing to make this fight happen. But the fight isn’t about Tyson Fury, the fight is about the WBC belt that is pending in his collection.
“If I start telling you the list of things [Fury] wanted, one, five, ten, or 15 minutes will not be enough. There was a list of things he wanted to get in his favour that was absolutely unacceptable, which were completely disrespectful to the unified champion and former undisputed [cruiserweight] champion.
“I cannot disclose the negotiations, it’s part of the ethics. So, if I start to go into the details, it won’t look good. Maybe, if the other party would be willing to take the decision to disclose what were the things then we can talk about it. At this time, I cannot do this just for this reason… With huge regret in my heart, I must admit [the fight is off]… [Usyk] will take a short break and comply with his mandatories.”
Frank Warren, who co-promotes Fury alongside Bob Arum, has shifted blame to the Usyk side for the fight not being made.
“Tyson publicly stated that we should scrap the rematch, this was to simplify the deal. Rematch clauses can be very difficult and Tyson’s been there before when a rematch blocked a fight with him and Anthony Joshua [in 2021] when Deontay Wilder took him to court. That kyboshed that fight with Joshua,” Warren said to talkSPORT.
“Anyway, I convinced Tyson to take the rematch [with Usyk] and he did. So I told them on Sunday we’re gonna go with the rematch. Then we got into a situation with how the rematch money is gonna be split and that’s what we’ve been working on… Why can’t it be overcome if he wants the fight? We want the fight, why can’t it be overcome… There’s no reason for this fight to be off.
“You know why they want the rematch clause? Because it’s two paydays. Where are they gonna earn the type of money they can earn fighting Tyson twice? They aren’t gonna get that type of money to fight Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois. But Tyson brings a lot of money to the table, that’s why they want it.
“We are willing to take the same deal as what they did for their rematch with Anthony Joshua. I know what that deal is so we’ll go with that, no problem with that.”
