Tyson Fury has broken his silence on the financial terms that look likely to see negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk come to and end with no fight signed.
‘The Gypsy King’ holds the WBC title, and has been in talks to pit that against Usyk’s WBA, WBO, and IBF straps to crown a four-belt champion for the first time heavyweight history.
Despite promises last December of the simplicity in making the fight, recent updates have been increasingly negative.
It’s been reported that the sticking point is purely financial, with the Ukrainian’s side looking for a 50/50 split – or 60/40 to the winner on the night – but the Brit’s team pushing for the lion’s share given the fact that Wembley would likely play host.
Fury has now confirmed that theory by calling out his would-be opponent on social media, offering only 30% and seemingly unfazed at the prospect of moving on from the legacy-defining fight – one which many fans believe he needs to call himself the greatest of a generation.
“I see all this talk of boxing fights. They want 50%. Usyk and all this, Tyson’s being greedy. Where I’m standing – Usyk, you and your team are worth 30%. You either take it or your leave it. And if you don’t want it, go and fight Daniel Dubois at the Copper Box and get a few million dollars.
You want to make some real money? Come and fight the Gypsy King. But, I will say, for every day from today that you linger and mess around, I’m going to deduct 1% from the 30% until you take it. And if you don’t take it, fight Dubois for two million dollars.
But how in the world could you ever offer me a deal? Not possible. Tick tock, tick tock. Pussies.”
‼️ Tyson Fury speaks out on the Oleksandr Usyk fight and says he wants a 70/30 purse split in his favour…
[📽️ @Tyson_Fury] pic.twitter.com/CWrdA8ybGg
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 10, 2023
Fans will remember the last time Fury set a similar deadline in negotiations and how that turned out. He had offered Anthony Joshua a shot at the WBC title before setting timelines for the former unified champion to sign the contract. Things fell apart quickly from there.
As for Usyk’s team, it’s highly unlikely they take 30% – or 29 depending on when Fury’s terms come into play. In fact, his promoter, Alex Krassyuk, recently admitted that the fight was now unlikely to take place.
The video from Fury will likely only serve to frustrate fans further, who may have just watched an opportunity for an undisputed heavyweight champion crumble before their eyes in a blaze of nicknames and financial demands.