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22nd March 2023
09:43am GMT
Tyson Fury's undisputed heavyweight bout with Oleksandr Usyk is off after talks broke down between the two camps.
Just last week, Fury's promoter Frank Warren had confirmed to talkSPORT that a showdown between the two fighters would take place at Wembley in April.
negotiations between the two camps had seemingly stalled in recent days, and as the WBA’s deadline approached, it looked like Usyk would be ordered to fight Daniel Dubois, his mandatory challenger. The Ukrainian’s promoter went himself admitted at the time that he thought a fight between the pair was “unlikely to happen next.”
A deal had apparently been struck at the 11th hour though to agree terms for a fight, with Usyk reportedly agreeing a 70/30 purse split in Fury's favour.
But now, to the surprise of very few people, the fight has been cancelled.
Usyk's manager Egis Klimas confirmed the decision to ESPN, and placed the blame squarely at Fury's door.
He said: “No matter how much Usyk compromised, he was pushed for more.”
Klimas reportedly then confirmed Usyk will look to return later in the summer around June or July in a mandatory defence which could line up potential bouts with either Filip Hrgovic or Daniel Dubois.
It is unclear what the next move will be for Fury.
There were always doubts over how realistic a fight between Fury and Usyk at Wembley was. The date proposed was April 29, less than six weeks away, with many doubting if Fury could get himself fight-ready in that time.
Fury may well now decide to take part in a cross-over bout with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
The heavyweight has already completed his mandatory challenge, so has no obligations to take on another boxer to defend his belts.
The pair have already publicly agreed to a mixed-rules bout and Fury initially proposed that he could step in the ring with Ngannou this year providing he has completed his own ambitions in the ring. However with the Usyk fight now a non-starter, Fury suggested that he could look to face off with the Cameroon star.
"I’m hoping so [a fight with Francis Ngannou materialises]," Fury told GiveMeSport when discussing his options if a clash with Usyk collapses. "I’m very much hoping so. Because if Usyk doesn’t happen like this month coming, then I’m going to say, 'right then, let’s move on and do Francis Ngannou'.
"And I’m looking to get big Francis in a cage with 4oz gloves on and throw down with him swinging some big bombs. It’s risky because Francis at one point was considered the biggest puncher in combat sports. So, with 4oz gloves on, all it takes is one punch and it’s all over."
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