Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter has admitted the undisputed heavyweight title fight against Tyson Fury ‘doesn’t look likely’ with Daniel Dubois next in line should the fight fall through.
Talks between IBF, WBO and WBA champion Usyk and WBC champion Fury have been ongoing since the start of the year but their fight to crown the division’s first undisputed champion in 23 years is now in doubt.
Fury is claimed to have turned down a 60-40 split of the fight purse in favour of the winner with his promoter Frank Warren setting a deadline for the end of this week for the proposed fight date of 29 April at Wembley.
But Usyk’s right-hand man Alexander Krassyuk admits hopes for the fight going ahead are fading fast.
‘It doesn’t look likely that are going to have a fight on 29 April,’ Krassyuk told iD Boxing.
‘That’s my anticipation. The term is too short and did you see any posts from Tyson or his team training somewhere on social media or doing their jobs?
‘I think they are not in training camp and that means they did not take the decision to fight. That is why we don’t think really positive, we have to be realistic.’
If the Fury fight does not happen, Usyk has three mandatory challengers for his world title belts in tow in Joe Joyce [WBO], Filip Hrgovic [IBF] and Dubois [WBA].
Dubois is thought to be at the front of that queue, having won the WBA ‘regular’ title last summer after knocking out Trevor Bryan and defending the belt before Christmas.
The WBA officially ordered Usyk to defend his title against Dubois in December but at that stage, it looked unlikely that ruling would affect plans for the undisputed clash against Fury.
That could change should no deal be agreed with ‘The Gypsy King’ with Krassyuk welcoming the prospect of a title fight against the 25-year-old Londoner.
‘This is actually what’s next for Usyk. So what can I say? We have to comply with it. It’s probably not the worst fight for the UK. Dubois is English,’ he said.
‘Usyk fought a couple times here, so he’s probably a bit known. This is a fight where an Englishman is fighting for three belts at heavyweight. It’s a bit more than just a normal heavyweight fight.
‘Because Usyk and Tyson and all this stuff occurred, that’s why it doesn’t look that big because we have something to compare with. On the other hand, it’s still huge.’
MORE : ‘He has played fans for years!’ – Eddie Hearn slams Tyson Fury for ‘rejecting’ Oleksandr Usyk offer
MORE : ‘Maybe he is not ready yet’ – Tyson Fury turns down offer for Oleksandr Usyk fight
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