In an expletive-ridden and explosive interview, Tyson Fury told TalkSPORT that an undisputed fight with “idiot” Oleksandr Usyk was “just business.”
Fury, who is currently still in retirement although continues to hold the WBC Heavyweight title, phoned in to TalkSPORT to give fans an update on the clash they all want to see. In true Gypsy King fashion, it seems he couldn’t care less about the plaudits the fight would bring.
“He [Usyk] needs the legendary Gypsy King. I don’t need some foreigner. I don’t need him. I’ve done what I’ve done, I’m a legend in the game – undefeated heavyweight champion retired like Rocky Marciano.
“This idiot needs me. Some foreigner who no one can say his name. Me giving him a fight is me giving him an opportunity in becoming a legend.”
Usyk is fresh off a second victory over Anthony Joshua. The win cemented him as unified heavyweight champion and added to a legacy that already contains an undisputed and unbeaten campaign at cruiserweight.
This career has many fans branding the Ukrainian as the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Fury, perhaps unsurprisingly, disagrees.
“No middleweight born from his mother can set about The Gypsy King. I don’t care who he is. And all this talk of ‘he’s the pound for pound great’ – pound for pound in my opinion is a load of bulls**t.”
“When Usyk was amateur boxing sucking his mother’s nipples, I was a British heavyweight champion. As a full set man in his twenties he boxed at middleweight.”
All this pound for pound legendary status – I don’t rate him.”
Does he fancy his chances if the fight were to be made? Of course he does.
“Let me tell you, I could beat Usyk on a week’s training, because he’s a middleweight. I’ll put my fist right through him.”
“I don’t respect him. I don’t think he’s a great fighter. I think he’s a struggling fighter and I’ve seen more excitement in Morecambe on a Friday night.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Fury reiterated his demands for a £500 million payday. He re-enforced an ultimatum to the powers that be to come up with the money and the details in seven days or the undisputed fight won’t happen.
Finally, he spoke passionately about knife crime fresh from the heartbreaking news that his cousin was murdered in Altrincham. As of yesterday, a man has been charged with the crime.