Tyson Fury vs Usyk now ‘off’ despite Ukrainian’s ‘compromises’ for April fight

  • Bookmark
  • Offbeat news from the world of sport

    We have more newsletters

    Tyson Fury's highly-anticipated title unification clash with Oleksandr Usyk is reportedly off after talks between the pair collapsed.

    According to ESPN, sources from both camps say that negotiations have broken down, and there are even reports that Usyk has left his training camp.

    The fighters were scheduled to step toe-to-toe at Wembley Stadium on April 29 after agreeing a 70-30 purse split, but according to Usyk's manager Egis Klimas, Fury's camp have been asking for a bigger share of the spoils.

    READ MORE: UFC chief Dana White can't help but smile over Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury problems

    "No matter how much Usyk compromised, he was pushed for more," said Klimas, who issued a firm take-it-or-leave-it offer to Fury's team.

    WBA president Gilberto Mendoza previously set a deadline of April 1 for the fight to be made so the teams still have time to thrash out a deal, and Fury's promoter Frank Warren is reportedly hopeful that a deal can be resurrected in the next 24 hours, but the likelihood is that this late disagreement could prove fatal.

    Last week, the Gypsy King insisted that the bout was definitely on, and even confirmed that he'd had entered a social media blackout during training for the fight.

    Will the fight still happen? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

    Klimas now says Usyk's attention will now pivot to a mandatory defence of his WBA title against Daniel Dubois.

    He told SNAC: "If this fight is going to happen, only April 29th. Or it's just going to be cancelled, and we'll go with the mandatory."

    Fans have been desperate to see the two heavyweights lock horns in what would be arguably the biggest boxing match in a generation, with Usyk holding the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles and Fury holding the WBC title.

    A few days ago, Fury posted a video on Instagram claiming he was about to start his training camp and would subsequently be staying off social media until after the fight.

    "'Hi guys, as fun as it's been over the last few days terrorising Usyk and his team," he said. "Tomorrow I'm gonna knuckle down into training camp and I'll be doing a blackout as I always do on social media.

    "Nav will be running my Instagram account, keeping it all updated on my training progress and how it's all going. April 29 is definitely a worker, I will see you all on the night. Tune in, or be there or be square.

    "This is the biggest fight in British boxing history, the fight of the century. Two undefeated world heavyweight champions throwing down to see who is the No.1 in the division – the undisputed heavyweight championship on the line.

    "Peace out, good training to Usyk… let the best man win."

    Many have questioned whether Fury actually wants the fight, with some pointing to his disproportionate purse split demands as evidence that he doesn't, and the latest claims from Usyk's camp will only add fuel to the fire.

    READ NEXT:

    • Eddie Hearn rinses Simon Jordan with sunbed joke after jibe about the truth

    • Eddie Hearn names 'boxing Mount Rushmore' – and leaves out Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

    • Oleksandr Usyk's savage wife warns Tyson Fury the grim reaper is coming

    • Tyson Fury
    • Boxing
    • Oleksandr Usyk

    Source: Read Full Article