Frank Warren has given his reaction to Oleksandr Usyk signing with the Saudi based Skill Challenge Entertainment, and claims it proves the Ukrainian is only interested in fighting for the most money possible.
The link up was announced yesterday, and fans will hope it is a step along the way to sealing a mouth watering undisputed clash between Usyk and Tyson Fury.
In a recent interview with TalkSPORT, Warren stated the move shed some light on why a clash with Fury did not materialise earlier this year.
“All Usyk is interested in is getting a big payday and fighting for big paydays in Saudi Arabia
I don’t blame him for that. I understand that but don’t make it that Tyson is the greedy person. You go to Saudi Arabia because they are going to pay a lot of money and that’s what it is.
If you’re getting paid three or four times the amount of money, whether you want to call it greed, good business, or whatever, that’s not down to Tyson Fury.
That’s the reason he didn’t want to fight Tyson Fury in the UK.
We offered him that fight over the summer, and we kept it very quiet, we haven’t banged on about it, and in the interim period Usyk never came back with anything.”
Despite months of negotiations and numerous assurances that a legacy defining showdown between Fury and Usyk go ahead, issues regarding purse splits and potential rematch clauses proved to be too much to overcome, leaving a universal sour taste in the mouths of the boxing public across the world.
Some fans and pundits blamed Fury for the historic showdown not happening, however it will be interesting to see if Warren’s comments help to change that narrative.