Allen Babic believes a fight between the two heavyweight champions, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, still goes ahead despite Fury’s negotiation tactics.
‘The Savage’ was brought into Fury’s Morecambe camp in preparations for his December 2022 contest with Derek Chisora – one he won at a canter to set up the undisputed fight with Usyk.
Despite promoters promising fans that the four-belt clash would be easy to make, talks have plodded along and looked close to collapse on more than one occasion – a 70/30 purse split demand from Fury in his favour being one of the biggest threats.
Babic is still convinced the fight happens, though, and told Seconds Out the demands from Fury were just an exercise in ‘pulling Usyk’s pants down.’
“I think Tyson Fury wants to fight Usyk, and I think that’s the reason we’re gonna get the fight because Tyson Fury is the biggest draw in boxing right now.
“There’s gonna be a fight, I think Fury’s just pulling their pants [down] right now. Enjoy it yourself the way Tyson does.”
Many fans bought into the theory that ‘The Gypsy King’ was gaining the upper-hand in a mental battle with Usyk by frustrating the fighter and his team in a will-he-won’t-he palaver.
Other’s believe the Brit had his bluff called by the Ukrainian when the split was accepted, but most just don’t care for any further negotiations and want the fight signed.
Regardless of what’s come before, Fury’s final update before a ‘social media blackout’ was a positive one.
The WBC champion his WBA, WBO and IBF counterpart all the best for the fight, and said it would be the biggest in heavyweight history. It’s understood that both teams are still working towards an April 29 event at Wembley Stadium.