“He tried to PLAY us. I said “that’s all, goodbye””: Oleksandr Usyk reveals why he walked away from Tyson Fury talks, claiming his rival played ‘a mental game’ after offering a 70-30 split…while he the fight with Daniel Dubois teases
- Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Tyson Fury fell through after failed negotiations
- The heavyweight division has not seen an uncontested clash since 1999
- Usyk ordered to defend his unified heavyweight titles against Brit Danial Dubois
Oleksandr Usyk has opened up about why negotiations with Tyson Fury fell through over a much-anticipated heavyweight reunion.
The Ukrainian fighter looked set to clash with the Gypsy King later in 2023 for a first uncontested fight since 1999.
However, according to Usyk’s agent, Fury’s persistent demands made a deal increasingly unlikely, despite the WBA, IBF and WBO belt holder accepting a ’70-30′ split in prize money.
One of the demands Fury allegedly made is to remove a rematch clause from the fight contract, with Usyk eventually pulling the plug on the talks.
In an interview with Volodymyr Kobelkov, Usyk claimed he was unwilling to put up with Fury’s “mental play” at the negotiating table and quickly understood that “nothing” was going on.
Oleksandr Usyk claimed he wasn’t prepared to put up with Tyson Fury’s ‘mental game’ at the negotiating table
A highly anticipated clash between the pair would have brought the heavyweight division its first uncontested fight in over two decades
“I see there’s nothing wrong, he’s trying to play us, and I said, ‘That’s all, bye,'” he said.
“He says, ’70-30, I’m the king. It’s all because of me.’ I don’t respond to that. I understand this is a mental game.’
‘The king is the king. And the king need not shout that he is the king.’
With the idea of a clash with Fury now seeming to be a thing of the past, Usyk quickly set his sights on the future and already set up a target.
“It will probably be Daniel Dubois at the end of the summer… I’m going to Britain, I love it.”
He was in fact ordered to face the 25-year-old to defend his WBA title after failing to negotiate with Fury.
And while Fury misses the chance to fight in the first uncontested clash in over two decades, Dubois now has everything to gain as the WBA’s mandatory challenger.
Usyk was quick to point out that fights with British boxers have proven profitable for him as he has won four fights on British soil since November 2018.
‘My first big achievements were in Great Britain. DanAnthony Joshua. I like this place, I like the fans, the people.’
Both sides now have 30 days to iron out the terms of their meeting, after which exchange offers come into play.
Dubois is gearing up for his first world heavyweight title in arguably the biggest test of his six-year career to date.
Usyk also pointed out that he has a strong record against British fighters, having won all four since 2018
Daniel Dubois is the mandatory challenger of the WBA and earns his first shot at world honors
The Greenwich fighter has 19 wins, 18 of them by knockout, with his only defeat coming at the hands of domestic rival Joe Joyce in November 2020, and he has remained confident in his prospects against the veteran Usyk.
“I believe I can knock him out,” he said recently Seconds off. “I want to end Usyk’s reign, take all tapes and fulfill 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 have around me, I feel that miracles can happen here.”
‘He’s just a different man. He is fit and he has proven to be a talented boxer. But I believe I can.’