Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has been discussing the fall out from the collapse of the undisputed fight against Tyson Fury.
The world was set to witness the first crowning of an undisputed heavyweight champion for over 20 years – until everything fell apart.
After Usyk accepted a 30% purse split, signing the contract for a clash with Fury seemed like a formality, until news suddenly broke that negotiations had stopped and the fight was officially off. Reports suggest that a financial split for the rematch was the cause of the breakdown.
Since that moment fans from both sides have been quick to blame the other, with accusations of ducking and greed.
Speaking to iD Boxing, Krassyuk wanted to make it clear that it was his side that pulled out of negotiations.
“There was a question , most frequently asked question and I want to use this opportunity straight away to say ‘we pulled out of negotiations’.
Team Usyk did that, myself and Egis Klimas we took this decision when we realised and got some proof that the fight is not happening.
So the question is off, team Usyk pulled out of negotiations, we initiated that. This is very important because some people keep asking on social media, ‘who did that, what happened?’, so now it’s completely clear, team Usyk pulled the plug out.”
Krassyuk, however suggested the reason they eventually pulled out was due to the never ending demands from the other side.
With the fight dead attention now turns to who the two men might face next. Although a clash with Deontay Wilder has gathered momentum, Usyk has made it clear his desire to keep hold of his belts, making a fight with his next in line mandatory, Daniel Dubois, most likely.
Fury on the other hand has once again been linked to ‘The Battle of Britain’ against Anthony Joshua, a fight his promoter Frank Warren, admitted was far bigger than the Usyk fight.