Tyson Fury has set new terms to either advance talks for an undisputed championship clash or simply kill it altogether.
The reigning lineal/WBC heavyweight king scoffed at the latest proposal from unified WBA/IBF/WBO titlist Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13KOs), whose team suggested a 60-40 split for their proposed April 29 clash. However, the offer was for the winner receiving 60 percent, in lieu of established financial terms for both boxers heading into what would be the first undisputed heavyweight championship clash of the 21st century.
Alexander Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter, suggested such an arrangement after Fury (33-0-1, 24KOs) balked at an even 50-50 split.
The unbeaten two-time lineal heavyweight champion was more pronounced in what he feels is fair market value for Usyk’s services.
“They want 50 percent, Usyk and all this ‘Tyson is being greedy.’ From where I’m standing, Usyk—you and your team are worth 30 percent,” Fury insisted during a video posted on his verified Instagram account Friday morning. “You either take it or you leave it. And if you don’t want it, go fight [WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titlist] Daniel Dubois for a couple bucks and get a few million dollars.
“If you want to make some real money, come on fight the Gypsy King.”
The pair of unbeaten heavyweights have been in talks seemingly since Fury’s third win with Derek Chisora in as many tries last December 3 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London.
Ukraine’s Usyk was ringside for the conclusion of the most pointless heavyweight trilogy since John Ruiz-Evander Holyfield. Upon the bout’s conclusion, he joined Manchester’s Fury on the ring apron to light the fuse for a promotional buildup to what should have led to—by now—a set-in-stone springtime affair.
More than three months later, there clearly remains a financial gap to bridge. This comes after learning of the proposed fight moving to the U.K. from the Middle East, and with the two sides still playing a game of chicken to see who eventually gives in to the other’s demands.
Fury is in the voluntary stage of his title reign. The WBC has yet to establish a mandatory challenger, as Deontay Wilder (42-2-1, 41KOs)—whom Fury beat in their February 2020 rematch to begin his championship reign—and Andy Ruiz (35-2, 22KOs) are the two highest ranked challengers but also have yet to agree to terms for their ordered final eliminator.
Usyk has significantly less freedom in whom he next faces if not Fury.
The Ukrainian southpaw became a two-division champ following a September 2021 win over Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22KOs). Their rematch didn’t take place until last August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by which time London’s Dubois was lined up as the WBA mandatory following his sixth-round knockout of Trevor Bryan to win the WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight title last June.
England’s Joe Joyce—who owns a knockout win over Dubois—is the WBO mandatory challenger in waiting. The 2012 Olympic Silver medalist upgraded his role to interim titlist following a tenth-round knockout of former WBO titlist Joseph Parker last September 24 in Manchester, England.
Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic looks to do the same with his mandatory ranking. The reigning IBF number-one contender was approved to challenge for an interim title, though he has yet to secure a willing foe. Hrgovic was positioned as the sanctioning body’s leading challenger following an off-the-canvas, split decision victory over Zhang Zhilei on the undercard of the Usyk-Joshua rematch.
Usyk’s team seems resigned to the reality of possibly next facing Dubois as time is running out for a targeted April 29 date for the undisputed championship.
Fury is perfectly content with letting his divisional rival travel that route, though he claims there remains an open window to still put together a fight for all the major titles. Oddly, a deadline isn’t attached but rather proposed financial penalties.
“I will say, for every day from today that you linger, mess around—I’m going to deduct one percent from the 30 percent,” Fury insisted to Usyk. “I’m going to deduct one percent until you take it. And if you don’t take it, fight Dubois for two million dollars. Not a problem. But how in the world could [Usyk’s team] have offered me a deal? Not possible.
“Tick tock, tick tock, pussies.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox