By Charles Brun: John Fury, the pappy for WBC heavyweight belt-holder Tyson Fury, admits that the negotiations with IBF/WBA/WBO champion are not looking good and potentially heading in the same direction as the failed talks for an Anthony Joshua fight last year.
The problem, as far as John is concerned, is that Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) isn’t treating Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) as the A-side.
Although the 58-year-old John maintains that this has “nothing to do with money,” yet he still wants Fury must be treated as “the A-side.” In other words, it is about money.
There wouldn’t have been a problem if Fury had made a deal with the Saudis because Usyk had reportedly already put together his own deal with them that he was satisfied with.
This whole “treat him right” language from John seems to be code for; Usyk needs to grovel and accept what he can get.
But when it came to Fury, it all went up in smoke after he asked for more than the Saudis were willing to pay, according to Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith of Matchroom Boxing.
The Fury-Usyk fight has been kicked back to Wembley Stadium in London, and there will be less money for both fighters. You can imagine how unhappy Usyk is with him now, looking at making less money, thanks to Fury not making a deal with the Saudis.
John insists Fury deserves to be A-side
“It’s nothing to do with money; it’s the principle. Tyson’s the A side,” said John Fury to Behind The Gloves. “Tyson’s the draw. Usyk, without Tyson, couldn’t sell the O2 out. Tyson, when he was starting out when he was challenging Wladimir Klitschko, he didn’t get paid well at all. So now he deserves to be the A-side,” said John with his confusing logic.
“Treat him right. Treat him as the great champion he is. And if it’s about money, I’m the best dealer man in the world. I’ll get a deal done myself. If they can’t do it, let John Fury do it.”
“I don’t know. No comment on it because we’re a long way away. It’s probably another AJ-Tyson, isn’t it? Fights that never happen because people don’t treat people like they should be,” said John.
It doesn’t look good for the Fury vs. Usyk negotiations now, does it? The question is, who’s to blame?
