Oleksandr Usyk & Deontay Wilder will fight in Saudi Arabia after 'better offer'

John Fury believes a secret deal for Oleksandr Usyk to fight Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia may have been agreed following the collapse of the unification showdown with Tyson Fury.

The fight to crown heavyweight boxing’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis fell through in spectacular fashion last week over problems relating to a rematch clause in the fight contract.

While Fury’s next move is uncertain, WBA, WBO and IBF champion Usyk is set to defend his titles against another British fighter in Daniel Dubois. The 25-year-old is the mandatory challenger for the Ukrainian’s WBA title and has insisted he is ready to return this summer having recovered from a knee injury suffered in December with Frank Warren confirming this week the Londoner is ready for the challenge.

But with talks for that fight underway, Fury Snr is not convinced. Tyson’s father claims Wilder, who is currently a free agent, has discussed a fight with Usyk that is set to take place in the near future in Saudi, believing Dubois will be offered step-aside money to make it happen.

‘It has been bizarre, but I had a sneaky feeling this was going to happen because of the Saudi situation. They are good friends with Usyk and I believe they have signed up with Deontay Wilder,’ Fury Snr claimed in an interview with Metro.co.uk on behalf of FreeBets.com.

‘I know Daniel Dubois is no1 contender but I won’t be surprised if there is a bit of step-aside money coming his and Frank Warren’s way.’

Wilder has fought just once since his successive defeats to Fury in 2020 and 2021, returning last October to knock out Robert Helenius in one round. Both he and Usyk have welcomed talk of the fight in the past.

Fury Snr insists Fury was fully committed to the 29 April date at Wembley but believes ‘a better offer’ may have been made.

‘Tyson didn’t need a long camp because he has never stopped training, he was raring to go,’ he said.

‘But I think they thought Tyson wasn’t ready to fight him or didn’t want to fight him. But they couldn’t be further from the mark. They had a deal and they reneged on it, it is that simple and I can see why now because they’ve had a better offer from the Saudis.

‘All will be revealed at a later date and you will find I’m not far wrong. He’ll [Usyk] be making a hell of a lot of money. The bottom line for me is Usyk never wanted to fight Tyson. He had a better offer from Deontay Wilder and his team with the Saudis over there and that is what has gone on here.

‘It is only my opinion but I think they have had a better offer and I think Frank Warren will be getting some step-aside money. And this will show me where Frank Warren is at with Tyson. But it is all about money and politics, the people behind the fighters who are buggering everything up.’

Fury Snr added: ‘We have lost out. And I’m not sore about losing out to Saudi Arabia, they are a great country, they have got the money, they will pay for the boxing and will pay the fighters maybe more than what they are worth to get the big fights so good luck to them. Well done.

‘But mark my words. Usyk will be fighting Wilder in Saudi at some point this year.’

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