Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has poked fun at Tyson Fury’s negotiating strategy as the pair still struggle to sign on the dotted line for an undisputed heavyweight clash.
Usyk – who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts – recently accepted a financial split of 70/30 in favour of Fury, seemingly clearing the last hurdle to get the fight announced.
Today, Fury demanded that the rematch clauses be removed from the contract. Despite many fans in favour of less two-fight deals in the sport, a change this late in the talks has upset Usyk’s side, who claim that the Brit insisted on those terms in the first place.
Firmly of the belief that Fury is ‘ducking’ them, Krassyuk and Usyk clearly don’t have much faith that this latest issue will be resolved.
It was that which prompted the promoter to set out the terms he thinks the WBC Champion might come back at them with tomorrow, including English judges, five-minutes between rounds and a one-armed Usyk.
“Spoiler for tomorrow:
Tyson Fury sends out the draft agreement where there is no rematch clause, no anti doping testing, only local judges, Usyk is forbidden to use his left hand, 5 min rest between the rounds etc etc and then goes on his Instagram like:
‘You middleweight gapped teeth rabbit you’ve got the contract. You’ve sh***ed yourself. If it’s not signed in 25 seconds I’ll fight Jake Paul next.'”
— alex.krassyuk (@AKrassyuk) March 13, 2023
Krassyuk’s prediction comes amidst Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, claiming that the bout will be signed and go ahead as planned with unwavering confidence.
With an April 29 date at Wembley Stadium still the target, the pair must get busy signing before the fight is either delayed further or dropped altogether.