Bob Arum expects Tyson Fury to wait to take on Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia at the end of the year
Bob Arum expects Tyson Fury to wait to take on Oleksandr Usyk in a lucrative showdown in Saudi Arabia at the end of the year, turning down a fight with Zhilei Zhang
- Discussions continue to circulate about Tyson Fury taking on Oleksandr Usyk
- It was rumored that the gypsy king would fight Zhilei Zhang in the meantime
- His co-promoter Bob Arum expects Fury to wait for Usyk by the end of this year
Tyson Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum expects the Gypsy King to turn down a fight with Zhilei Zhang this summer and wait for a lucrative fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Chinese fighter Zhang was tipped to take on Fury after beating Joe Joyce in April, inflicting the Briton his first-ever professional defeat.
This meant that Zhang replaced Joyce as champion Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO mandatory challenger, setting up a possible fight with Fury in the meantime.
Joyce has since activated his rematch clause – which could delay proceedings – though he may be offered compensation to allow Fury-Zhang to take place.
Zhang and Joyce lined up to fight Fury after he couldn’t agree on terms for a blockbuster showdown with Usyk, but Arum believes they will eventually come to an agreement for a fight in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum expects the Gypsy King to turn down a fight with Zhilei Zhang this summer and wait for a lucrative fight with Oleksandr Usyk
Zhang (right) was tipped to take on Fury after his shock victory over Joe Joyce (left) in April
Arum said he didn’t expect Fury to fight anyone before taking on Usyk in Saudi Arabia
He also claimed that the gypsy king will most likely wait for Usyk – even if the Ukrainian organizes another fight in the meantime.
“I honestly think all the money anyone is talking about for that fight pales in comparison to what they could be making in the Middle East,” he told ProBox TV.
“They are now waiting, both fighters, until the end of the year to fight each other in the Middle East, because that’s where the big money is.
“Right now I think he’s going to wait (to fight), but with Tyson Fury it depends on how he wakes up in the morning.”
Meanwhile, a fight between Fury and Usyk in Saudi Arabia could be matched by a fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
The kingdom is quickly emerging as the place for the richest fights, replacing the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas.
This came at a time when it was reported that Fury would not be able to enter the US due to his alleged ties to Daniel Kinahan – who is reportedly the head of an Irish organized crime group.
But Arum dismissed these claims, saying, “The idea that he hasn’t been cleared to fight here is balloon-like.
“But he has to go to the US embassy and be interviewed, and then they will give him his visa. But he was hesitant to have that interview.
“We’ve got the person he needs to see — there’s no reason he’s being kept out of the country,” before adding, “He’s Tyson Fury.”
Usyk and Fury previously tried to confirm their blockbuster fight but couldn’t agree on a deal