By Robert Segal: Tyson Fury’s promoter Bob Arum is “hopeful” that he can negotiate the fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship between ‘The Gypsy King’ and IBF, WBA & WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk next.
That’s the only fight that Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) wants after defeating Anthony Joshua last Saturday night. Usyk says if he doesn’t get the Fury fight, he may never fight again.
In hindsight, it might have been a mistake on Usyk’s part to reveal that because it’s widely believed Fury doesn’t fancy the fight against him.
If Fury believes there’s a chance that he can gain the belts after they’re vacated, you got to believe he’ll take that path rather than take a risky fight that he’s not confident of winning against Usyk.
At this point, whether the fight gets made or not could depend on the purse requirements. Fury says he wants half a billion, which isn’t a good sign.
“Hey Tyson, back in the ring please,” said Oleksandr Usyk to DAZN.
“Gyspsy King, if you are a king, you have to prove that you’re a king because you’re going to be dethroned by another king. Brother, train hard or retire now,” said Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk to ID Boxing.
“All I know is you have to parties that get on very well with each other. There’s no rival TV companies involved,” said Frank Warren to ID Boxing on the Fury vs. Usyk fight.
Top Rank and our co-promoter, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, are hopeful we can make the biggest heavyweight championship fight since Ali fought Frazier…. Fury vs. Usyk. pic.twitter.com/qQkIflPOYM
— Bob Arum (@BobArum) August 22, 2022
“On that side, it’s going to be pretty easy to do, pretty easy to accommodate. It’s just finding out where because they have high expectations of what they’re going to get paid for the fight. It’s where it generates the money that gets them the money that they feel their worth.
“Hell yeah. If anyone is listening to what he’s saying, they’re as mad as him,” said Dean Whyte to Secondsout when asked if Fury will come out of retirement.
“He’s a fascinating character and a hell of a boxer, but he does some strange things. He says he wants a half a billion to fight, and then he says he’s going to fight Derek Chisora. There are five different things in a 48-hour window.
“Then he’s in his Ferrari, saying he’s enjoying his retirement. In tthe day of his retirement, he’s in a video saying, ‘You’re an idiot, Derek, You should have fought me. Sign the contract.'” said Whyte.