The promoter of Oleksandr Usyk isn’t convinced that Tyson Fury deserves a bigger slice of the financial pie.
Fury, the WBC titlist from Manchester, England, and Usyk, the WBO, WBA, IBO, IBF champion from Ukraine, are in deep talks to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in the spring.
Their negotiations recently reached a roadblock after an apparently failed attempt to stage the fight in the Middle East. Both fighters would be paid gargantuan sums if the fight took place in the Oil Kingdom. The organizers are pivoting to England, where London’s Wembley Stadium could end up becoming the destination for the fight.
Now, however, the issue comes down to money. Unlike in the Middle East, where both fighters would have been paid handsome guarantees through separate arrangements with the backer, the fighters will now have to “share the pot.”
Krassyuk informed BoxingScene.com that he does not intend to back down from anything less than a 50-50 split.
When it was pointed out that some have argued that Fury is entitled to a bigger portion of the monies because he is a significant draw in his homeland and thus would be driving sales, Krassyuk offered a rebuttal, citing Usyk’s three belts to Fury’s one.
“Yeah, but how can you justify this? Just because he’s English? Doesn’t sound [like a] big [justification],” Krassyuk told BoxingScene.com. “From the other side, Fury can say, ‘OK it doesn’t matter to me who I’m fighting. [Whether it’s] Usyk or the man from a supermarket, I can still sell out Wembley stadium.’
“But, c’mon man, this is sports. It’s not just about professional boxing. Go to Hollywood if you want to make that kind of money. If you’re the king you’ve got to prove it. Prove it against the guy with three belts.”
Still, despite all the recent negative hoopla, Krassyuk is confident that he can cut a “fair” deal with Fury’s representatives (Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions) in the next few days.
“I anticipate we will have a good chance to do so,” Krassyuk said of finalizing an agreement. “I’m really optimistic. The only thing that can damage the fight [is Fury]. Usyk is very flexible, money never touched his heart. He knows if he’s successful in the ring, money comes his way — but the only concern I have is Tyson’s attitude.
“If Fury is afraid to lose his popularity, to lose the status he has now—and against Usyk he has the biggest chance to lose it— he may not be flexible, he might ask for a bigger share to justify his risk. Probably for him this is the riskiest fight in boxing. But deep in my heart I believe he has the heart of a warrior and he will accept the fair conditions and will not walk around…then we can make this fight in the next three days.”