Tyson Fury is ‘running away’ from Oleksandr Usyk and it’s something his fans don’t deserve, according to the Ukrainian’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk.
It’s no secret that the attempted fight negotiations between the two heavyweight champions have been frustrating for all involved.
Following a promise from promoters that it would be made earlier this year, talks collapsed in a heap of public demands and deadlines.
There’s a potential for the discussions to be reignited for a showdown in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2024, but fans are dubious of the success.
Speaking to Boxing Social, Krassyuk said Fury didn’t want to fight Usyk.
“I’m not inventing, I’m just commenting the fact. He is running away from Oleksandr Usyk, and this is a fact. He’s now trying to fight some ‘game-changing opponent.’ Let us see who is this opponent? How dangerous is the game-changer?”
Asked about Fury’s next move potentially being a bout with MMA star, Francis Ngannou, Krassyuk wouldn’t criticise it as an event – but pointed out it was a step away from Usyk and that’s something fans won’t forgive.
“I don’t treat it with any disrespect. The only thing I am really negative about is that this comprehension of the idea that Tyson Fury is rich, recognised, famous only for one reason – because he has fans who made him rich buying tickets, buying his merchandise, buying pay-per-views. The money he has on his account is the money that came from his fans’ pockets.
But fans want to get something back in return. And now the thing everyone wants to get, Tyson does not give it to them. They want to see the big fight, and Tyson tries to avoid it. He doesn’t give the big fight to the fans. That’s the only thing that fans will never forgive him. He has to fight Usyk. He ha to make this fight of the century.”
Whilst Usyk readies himself to defend his unified titles against Daniel Dubois on August 26, Fury’s next fight is set to be announced soon.