Usyk’s manager gives update on Fury undisputed clash: “plug” could be pulled

By Boxing News - 03/18/2023 - Comments

By Jake Tiernan: Oleksandr Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas says the further they go in negotiations with Tyson Fury, the more likely they’ll pull the plug on the April 29th fight and face their mandatory next.

Klimas says IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight champion Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) is being treated like Fury’s recent opponents Derek Chisora & Dillian Whyte, who he successfully defended his WBC title last year against last year.

In other words, Fury’s management is treating Usyk like a voluntary challenger, not a unified three-belt champion.

If Usyk is confident about defeating his mandatory challengers Daniel Dubois, Filip Hrgovic, and Joe Joyce, he should go in that direction rather than agreeing to a deal he’s not happy with against the one-belt champion Fury.

Klimas didn’t say what they’re asking for in the negotiations, as they reportedly agreed to the 70-30 split.

“They’re still treating Oleksandr Usyk like they did with Derek Chisora or Dillian Whyte. They act like it’s just a regular Fury fight in the UK, and everything has to be by Fury’s rules,” said Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas to Steve Kim’s K-9 Corner.

“We can’t just play by everything they throw to us. Enough is enough. If this fight is going to happen, only on April 29th, or it’s just going to be canceled, [then] we’ll go with the mandatory,” said Klimas.

Indeed, Fury posted on social media earlier this week that he’s now starting training camp for the Usyk undisputed clash, treating the fight as if it’s a done deal rather than the negotiations still ongoing.

Fury even has his American coach SugarHill Steward in the UK, helping him prepare for the fight against Usyk on April 29th at Wembley Stadium in London.

If Team Usyk are going to threaten to pull the plug on the Fury fight, they need to be ready to do so because it’s unlikely that the 6’9″ Gypsy King will change his stance of wanting a wide split in his favor now that it’s been seemingly agreed to.

One gets the sense that Fury feels ambivalent about fighting Usyk because it’s hard work and a style that is alien to him.

Fury can make easier money and more by facing former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou or Anthony Joshua.  With those two fights there for the taking for Fury, he doesn’t feel the need to give Usyk a fair deal.