Oleksandr Usyk has reaffirmed what he said in the aftermath of his victory over Anthony Joshua in their rematch in Jeddah – that the only fight that interests him next is an undisputed showdown with WBC world champion.
Usyk told Parimatch that – despite not having much of an idea of Fury’s true intentions – talks are underway for a mega fight between the two in 2023. The 35-year-old went on to play down Fury’s previous purse demands for the bout, describing him as a ‘lunatic.’
“I don’t know anything about what Tyson Fury is doing or thinking.
We’re in negotiations talking about a match and we’re doing our best to make this bout happen. Of course, I really want to have this fight next year.
But if Tyson Fury is not interested in a match next year, then it’s not possible to fight against him. I’m not interested in fighting any other boxer, so let’s wait.
He’s talking about 500 million pounds for the fight. He’s a lunatic, but in a good sense I mean. I’d also want 500 million, but it’s something crazy.”
It appeared Fury was set to agree an all British fight with Anthony Joshua in December, with AJ’s team agreeing to the 60/40 split set out by ‘The Gypsy King.’ However, those negotiations appear to be dead in the water, with Fury’s promoter Frank Warren saying earlier today that Fury had ‘had enough’ with the talks and was moving on.
Whilst UK fans will no doubt be disappointed with the AJ fight falling through, there will be hope that Fury has his eyes set firmly on competing for all four major belts against the mercurial Ukranian Usyk.
The winner of a potential fight between Fury and Usyk would almost certainly go down as an all time great and the best of this generation.