Tyson Fury has further jeopardised his proposed undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk by demanding the Ukrainian accept a 70-30 purse split in Fury’s favour.
Weeks after an agreement for a fight in either Saudi Arabia or at Wembley Stadium was increasingly believed to be close, progress had stalled to the point that fears had grown that the fight for the IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC titles was at risk.
The 34-year-old Fury, the WBC champion, had already been accused by Usyk’s representative Alex Krassyuk of asking for too much money, and on Friday Fury spoke in a video in which he demanded his would-be opponent fall into line.
“I see all this talk of boxing fights – they want 50 per cent; Usyk and all this; ‘Tyson’s being greedy’ – where I’m standing, Usyk, you and your team are worth 30 per cent,” he said in a video posted on social media.
“But I will say, for every day from today, that you linger – mess around – I’m going to deduct one per cent from the 30 per cent. So, every day, I’m going to deduct one per cent until you take it, and if you don’t take it, fight Dubois for $2m, not a problem. But how in the world could yous ever offer me a deal? Not possible
“Tick tock, tick tock. Pussies.”
Fury and Usyk, who dethroned Anthony Joshua to win the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, had come face to face in December after Fury had stopped Dereck Chisora to make the latest defence of his title. Fury has also repeatedly claimed to be retired, and to the extent that he was stripped of The Ring Magazine heavyweight title since won by Usyk, 36.
