Fury accused of ducking Usyk as Joshua fight nears completion

Tony Bellew has accused Tyson Fury of avoiding Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. The former cruiserweight world champion laid into The Gypsy King after his decision to face Anthony Joshua instead of Usyk next.

Fury was expected to square off against Usyk in the first undisputed heavyweight unification clash of the four-belt era this December. However, plans were put on hold when Usyk ruled himself out until 2023 with injuries sustained in his fight with AJ last month.

Usyk proposed that the fight be pushed back to February to allow him more time to heal up, but Fury instead opted to chase a fight with Joshua at the back end of 2022. The pair are now expected to square off on December 3 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales with personal terms being agreed upon by both parties.

“I don’t want to say he doesn’t fancy it against Oleksandr Usyk but let’s be honest, it’s not an easy proposition is it,” Bellew told talkSPORT.

Bellew faced Usyk back in 2018 and knows the threats he poses all too well. Despite a lively start, the Liverpudlian was knocked out cold by a beautiful one-two in the final contest of his professional career.

“When you get in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk you have so many different, difficult tasks in front of you. It’s his footwork, hand speed and movement,” Bellew continued.  

“You know, he’s got a bit of pop in his gloves these days because he’s up a weight division and he’s not getting himself down to cruiserweight. There’s just so many things to take into account and for a guy like Fury, he’s like, ‘I want to fight a guy who I know exactly what he will do.’

“For some reason unbeknown to me this ‘middleweight’ he doesn’t want to face on three months’ notice. I don’t get it! What I do understand is, ‘I’ll tell you what, I’ll fight AJ because I can earn double against AJ than what I’ll earn against Usyk.’”