Promoter Frank Warren has acknowledged that negotiations for the undisputed heavyweight championship are still very much a work in progress.
Tyson Fury, the WBC titlist from Manchester, England, whom Warren promotes, and Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO, WBA, IBF champion from Ukraine, have been in protracted discussions for the past few months to fight each other for all four heavyweight belts.
What seemed like a relatively simple deal to put together, however, has become problematic in recent weeks after it became clear that the Middle East would not be hosting the fight, thus drastically changing the financial dynamics of the matchup. In that scenario, Fury and Usyk would have earned above-market paydays.
Now that it appears the fight will take place in the United Kingdom, the fighters must share the revenue drawn from more tangible sources, such as the gate and pay-per-view sales. The figure may be high, but it probably pales in comparison to what they would have made in the Middle East. London’s Wembley Stadium is thought to be the frontrunner to land the fight.
Representatives for both fighters have gone back and forth with each other in the press concerning the financial split. Top Rank boss Bob Arum, Fury’s American promoter, has argued that Fury deserves the “lion’s share” since he would be driving most of the revenue.
Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, has insisted that his side would not entertain a split less than 50-50.
Warren, who acts as Fury’s UK promoter, offered a somewhat lukewarm update of the negotiations, making it clear there was still plenty of uncertainty involved between the parties.
“At the end of the day, I can’t force Usyk to fight, I can’t force Tyson to fight,” Warren told talkSPORT. “That’s their choice. They’re the guys getting in the ring and at the end of the day we’re either going to make this happen or not.”
“We’re still none the wiser, we’re still waiting for it to be done, it’s all coming to a head now, but it’s still not done,” Warren continued.
“You need the agreement of both boxers to make it happen and at the moment we haven’t got that, so that’s where we’re at.”
Warren pointed out that the working date is April 29, and that he expects some sort of resolution by the end of the week.
“But I would say it’s not going to go past the end of this week that’s for sure because the proposed date is April 29,” Warren said. “We have to contract with a venue and so forth to make it happen.”
Warren alluded to the issue of the financial split, suggesting that the promoters were not going to venture into unrealistic territory.
“I have a pot and out of that pot I can only pay what’s in it and if it’s not enough money the fight won’t happen. At the end of the day we’re running a business,” Warren said.
Warren made it clear he and his colleagues are working diligently to get what would be a history-making event over the line.
“I’m hoping we get it done because on one wants to see this fight more than me,” Warren said. “I promise you, because you know what, no one’s ever promoted the four belts. It’s never happened. It’d be the first time, it’d be a history-making thing. It’ll be great.
“I believe Tyson wins the fight and that’s his legacy. I want it. But I can’t force people into a situation unless they’re comfortable. And if they’re not comfortable they won’t be mentally right for the fight, and I won’t do that either.”