Bob Arum, Tyson Fury’s co-promoter, has responded to claims from Oleksandr Usyk’s team that March 4 next year is the final date that an undisputed fight can happen.
The two champions are set to put their belts on the line to crown just one champion in the division since Lennox Lewis. Alex Krassyuk, Usyk’s promoter, pleased fans recently by claiming that if the fight hadn’t happened by March 4 of 2023, it wouldn’t happen at all.
For his part, Arum wasn’t aware of any deadline or final date available. He told Givemesport as much.
“Well, I don’t know where he’s pulling that date from of March 4. But one thing I must say is that both fighters have agreed to fight each other next without interim fights so that’s good.
What the date will be, that’s to be determined, what the site will be, that’s what we’re working on, and we’ll see in the days ahead.
Fans of the sport won’t need reminding of how things turned out the last time a deadline was introduced into Fury negotiations. On that occasion, it was ‘The Gypsy King’ himself who set it and Anthony Joshua who refused to meet it. Negotiations fell apart quickly after.
However, the veteran US promoter went on to confirm that the undisputed talks were in a good place, and that all involved were working towards the same goal.
I mean I’ve got great partners in the UK with Queensberry and you know, with Frank and George, and we’re in contact everyday.
I’ve been talking with Egis Klimas, the manager of Usyk, and I consider Usyk a good friend of mine as well. So I’m confident that fight is going to go on in the very near future. What that means as far as a date is concerned, that’s to be determined.”
Usyk had previously said that the first weekend in March was the last available date due to religious commitments, also mentioning late February as a potential.
The fight is expected to land in the Middle East due to the money on offer from such a site, however those involved have been keen to confirm that London’s Wembley stadium is still on the table.