By Charles Brun: Oleksandr Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas fired back at Tyson Fury on Thursday in response to him calling Usyk a “p**sy,” saying that they agreed to the terms & conditions from Tyson’s management.
Klimas says that it’s Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) that is keeping the fight with Usyk getting made.
That’s something that has now been confirmed by Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who revealed on Thursday that Fury has decided that he doesn’t wish to face IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs)
Hearn says Fury wants a “nice little one for March,” but he’s not going to get his way because he will be forced to defend his WBC strap against his mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte next.
It’s unclear what’s going in Fury’s head because he recently seemed on board with the idea of fighting Usyk, but now that the fight is on his doorstep, he suddenly doesn’t fancy the idea. Was Fury just blowing smoke all this time?
Yo man before next time you will mention @usykaa name check with your team, management, advisers, promoters who agreed with all terms and conditions looks like you are the one who is holding this wagon yelling and talking is cheap @Tyson_Fury https://t.co/gxmf4LvZZ3
— Egis Klimas (@KlimasBoxing) January 27, 2022
“I believe that’s the fight that will happen next,” said Hearn to iFL TV on Fury fighting Dillian Whyte next. “I don’t believe it’s [Fury vs. Usyk] is off the table because people are still discussing it.
Hearn: Fury doesn’t want the Usyk fight
“Tyson Fury is the one that has decided that he doesn’t want to fight Usyk next,” Hearn said. “Whether he tells you that or not, that is the truth. He [Fury] was not willing to fight Oleksandr Usyk next for undisputed because he wanted a fight in March against someone else.
“Now, he wants to fight Dillian Whyte. He changes his mind every day.
“He [Whyte] was in that whole discussion. He gets an opportunity to fight,” said Hearn when asked what happens with Dillian if Fury faces Usyk next.
Who else can’t wait for the fight.
the best of Britain.@DillianWhyte @WBCBoxing @trboxing @frankwarren_tv @MTKGlobal @BTSportBoxing @espn @ESPNRingside pic.twitter.com/rJvAaK1FVn— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) January 27, 2022
“The WBC title is a problem for that route because Dillian Whyte is NOT going to step aside for two shots, like two fights.
“It’s impossible. When Fury decided that he didn’t want to fight Usyk in his next fight, which is what he should have done, then the whole thing really doesn’t work anyway.
“I can’t really tell you where that picture is at other than we’re preparing for a bid tomorrow because I believe a purse bid will take place.
“It’s more than the step aside money [for Joshua]; it’s the plan to fight the best heavyweight in the world. If he fights Usyk in May and wins, would you say he’s the best heavyweight in the world?
“If he [Joshua] fights the winner of Usyk vs. Fury, would you say he’s the best heavyweight in the world? Were we willing to see a long-form contract to see if there’s a model that made sense, yes?
“But again, Fury would have to fight Usyk. ‘yeah, yeah,’ but when it comes down to it, he doesn’t fancy it. Tell the truth. You weren’t willing to fight Oleksandr Usyk next. So the whole thing is irrelevant, and once that purse bid takes place between Fury and Whyte, the whole thing breaks down anyway,” said Hearn.
It would be a good idea for Fury to think hard and decide whether he wants to fight Whyte because he needs to let them know now before Friday’s purse bid. If Fury waits until then to let the organizers know that he has no intention of fighting Whyte, they cancel the purse bid and strip him of his WBC title.
