Boxing fans have cast their vote on who they think is responsible for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk collapsing earlier this year. Express Sport readers have had their say on the matter in our latest poll and have pointed their fingers at The Gypsy King.
In March after months of negotiations, Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk officially informed Fury’s representatives that they would no longer be entertaining talks having grown tired by what he described as ‘insulting’ terms.
Fury and Usyk had agreed to a two-fight deal with the former pocketing a lion’s share of the prize pot for the inaugural encounter at 70-30. However, the rematch split proved to be the fight’s ultimate undoing.
According to reports from boxing insider Mike Coppinger, Fury demanded that the split be changed to 50-50 if he lost to the Ukrainian first time around while Usyk wanted the split reversed if he won. This proved to be the final straw for Usyk as his team stepped away from the negotiation table.
Fury accused Usyk of “running”, saying, “You were never man enough to tangle with the ‘Gypsy King’, ever in your life.” But Express Sport readers believe it was Fury’s demands that led to the fight falling through.
55% blamed Fury with only 6% going for Usyk while a further 39% said it was their promoter’s fault. “They did as much as we did. They tried hard. We all tried to make it happen,” Krassyuk told Sky Sports. “[The] rematch clause was just the point where it all exploded.
“The discussion about the rematch split was just the point where Usyk was fed up with everything. ’How many more times do I have to bow my head in front of Tyson. Why should I do this? It’s enough. Either he accepts what I say, or I leave’. Tyson did not accept it and he left.”
He added: “The money that was anticipated for Usyk in this fight was not even close to what Usyk earned in his last fight [against Anthony Joshua]. It’s definitely not Usyk’s payday and it’s definitely not his attempt to get more money. It’s his attempt to get the WBC belt.”
Usyk is now expected to defend his unified heavyweight world titles against WBA mandatory Daniel Dubois later this year. Meanwhile, Fury recently teased a ‘monstrous’ and ‘imminent’ fight. Reports suggest that Andy Ruiz Jr is his most likely, next opponent.
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