Oleksandr Usyk reveals why he walked away from Tyson Fury talks
‘He was trying to PLAY us. I said “that’s all, bye”’: Oleksandr Usyk reveals why he walked away from Tyson Fury talks and claims his rival played ‘a mental game’ after offering a 70-30 split… as he teases fight with Daniel Dubois
- Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Tyson Fury fell through after failed negotiations
- The heavyweight division has not seen an undisputed clash since 1999
- Usyk ordered to defend his unified heavyweight titles against Brit Danial Dubois
Oleksandr Usyk has opened up on the reason negotiations with Tyson Fury collapsed over a highly-anticipated heavyweight unification bout.
The Ukrainian fighter had looked set for a collision with the Gypsy King later in 2023 for a first undisputed bout since 1999.
However according to Usyk’s agent, Fury’s continued demands made an agreement increasingly unlikely, despite the WBA, IBF and WBO belt holder accepting a ’70-30′ split in prize money.
Among the demands that Fury is believed to have made is to remove a rematch clause from the fight contract, with Usyk ultimately pulling the plug on talks.
In an interview with Volodymyr Kobelkov, Usyk claimed that he was not prepared to endure Fury’s ‘mental game’ on the negotiation table and quickly understood there was ‘nothing’ going on.
Oleksandr Usyk claimed he was not prepared to endure Tyson Fury’s ‘mental game’ on the negotiation table
A highly-anticipated clash between the pair would have brought the heavyweight division it’s first undisputed bout in over two decades
‘I see that nothing is going on, he is trying to play us, and I said, “That’s all, bye”,’ he said.
‘He says, “70-30, I am the king. It’s all thanks to me.” I don’t respond to that. I understand that this is a mental game.’
‘The king is the king. And the king does not need to shout that he is the king.’
With the idea of a clash with Fury now seemingly in the past, Usyk has been quick to turn his eye to the future and already has a target lined up.
‘It will probably be Daniel Dubois at the end of the summer… I will go to Britain, I love it very much.’
He was in fact ordered to face the 25-year-old to defend his WBA title having failed to negotiate terms with Fury.
And while missing the chance to fight in the first undisputed clash in over two decades leaves Fury at a loss, Dubois now has it all to gain as the WBA’s mandatory challenger.
Usyk was quick to point out that fights with British boxers have proven profitable for him, having won four fights on British soil since November 2018.
‘My first big achievements were in Britain. Then Anthony Joshua. I like this place, I like the fans, the people.’
Both parties now have 30 days to thrash out terms for their meeting, after which purse bids will come into play.
Dubois is gearing up for his first world heavyweight title challenge and undoubtedly the biggest test of his six-year career so far.
Usyk also pointed out that he has a strong record against British fighters, winning all four since 2018
Daniel Dubois is the WBA’s mandatory challenger and takes his first crack at world honours
The Greenwich fighter has claimed 19 victories, 18 of which came by knockout, with his sole defeat coming at the hands of domestic rival Joe Joyce in November 2020, and remained supremely confident of his prospects against the veteran Usyk.
‘I believe I can knock him out,’ he recently told Seconds Out. ‘I want to end the reign of Usyk, take all the belts and fulfil my promise and what my potential is.’
‘I’ve got the timing, I’ve got the youth and I’ve got the speed. With my coaches, and the team I’ve got around me, I feel like this is where miracles can happen.”
‘He’s just another guy. He’s fit and he’s proven he’s a talented boxer. But I believe I can do it.’
Source: Read Full Article