Tyson Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren says there is a provisional date of March 26th pencilled in for the return of the ‘Gypsy King’.
The WBC heavyweight champion outlasted and outfought an impressive physical effort from Deontay Wilder to topple his American rival for the second time in their trilogy. The fight of the year contender was lauded for its thrills, knockdowns and courage shown by both men in a heavyweight story that now has its place in history. As is the case with boxing it wasn’t long before questions were being asked of what’s next.
“We’ve got a provisional date booked for Tyson on March 26, hopefully he’ll fight in the UK,” Warren told Boxing Social. “He may fight somewhere else but we’re going to get him out on the 26th.”
All roads appeared to lead to a mandatory defence against Dillian Whyte but there appears to be roadblocks in the way. Not only is Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn unhappy with the 80-20 purse split, in favour of Fury, announced by the WBC but it appears Hearn will appeal their decision.
The deadline date for purse bids had been January 11 but it is now more likely that this will be abandoned while Whyte’s team and the governing body continue to butt heads.
“Tyson wants to fight in March, he’s made that very clear,” Warren says. “There’s various other things we’re looking at and that’ll all become quite plain early next week where we’re at with everything.”
“It was always going to be 80-20,” he says of the split. “You’ve got a guy [Whyte] whose last purse was 300,000, according to the contract he lodged with the WBC. I think the highest he’s ever lodged with them is 500,000. That’s how they determine the splits of purses. It’s no secret what Tyson made for his last fight which was 20 million. How do you get a bigger split than 80-20 out of that? Tyson is the attraction.”
While names such as Andy Ruiz and Robert Helenius are linked with Fury as his next opponent ultimately Warren wants to see one of boxing’s biggest mavericks involved in the biggest fight for the division.
“I’d like to see Tyson in with Usyk,” Warren says. “That’s what I really would like to see.”