The latest update in the plodding negotiations for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk is not a positive one.
Whilst UK fans were pleased recently to hear that April 29 has been pencilled in at Wembley Stadium, there’s yet to be an announcement on the important part – whether or not the fighters will be in attendance.
The undisputed heavyweight title fight is one of, if not the, most important fight to be made in boxing right now. But despite no promotional or broadcast disputes, nothing has been signed.
With Saudi Arabia reportedly off the table, the UK seems the only choice, and that brings with it smaller purses and further negotiation on how the money is split per fighter.
This seems to be the current hold up and, according to Sergey Lapin from Usyk’s team, things aren’t moving quickly. He told SafeBettingSites that the Ukrainian champion is ready and willing.
“As it stands, the great Tyson Fury, the seven feet tall giant who tells the world he avoids no man, seems to be doing everything he can do to avoid an undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk.”
“He calls Oleksandr a rabbit and a middleweight, and yet Alex is here ready and willing to prove he’s the best heavyweight in the world. Meanwhile, Fury seems to have lost his courage and lost his pen.”
Usyk will be bring three major belts to the table, with the fourth held by Fury. The winner will be crowned the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis. And yet, Team Usyk still have not received a contract to sign.
“Quite a lot of time has now passed since his fight with Derek Chisora. And, apart from brief conversations, we are yet to receive an offer.”
“We’re waiting on a contract and, so far, there seems to be no desire from Team Fury to make this fight happen. Oleksandr declared from the very beginning he’ll fight Fury any time and any place. But it seems to me that Tyson ‘Belly’ Fury see’s Usyk as far too much of a risk.”
Lapin then advised Fury to ‘borrow’ courage from Anthony Joshua, his domestic rival who lost twice to Usyk.
“Fury should look at the courage his countryman Anthony Joshua showed when he twice fought Alex. Fury should borrow some of Joshua’s courage because at this point in time, I think it’s more likely we will see the fourth Fury-Chisora fight before we see Usyk face Fury.”
As April draws ever closer, the legacy-defining fight that once looked so certain is beginning to split at the seams.