Tyson Fury concedes defeat in Oleksandr Usyk pursuit after Whyte order

Fury’s promoter Bob Arum has told his fighter Fury to forget about the step-aside and focus on his potential showdown with Whyte after he was ordered as the mandatory challenger by the WBC

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Where does Tyson Fury’s win leave the world heavyweight scene?

Tyson Fury’s promoter Bob Arum has told his charge to focus on his upcoming mandatory defence against Dillian Whyte despite his desire to face Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury has now been ordered by the WBC to defend his heavyweight title against Dillian Whyte next year after a long wait for the official ruling.

The ‘Gypsy King’ offered rival Anthony Joshua a step-aside deal in a bid to hijack his rematch plans for an undisputed tilt of his own against Oleksandr Usyk.

But his long-term promoter Arum has encouraged Fury to focus on his test with Whyte so that he can progress and face the winner of Joshua’s rematch with Usyk afterwards.

“We’re dealing with professionals, and Todd duBoef is talking to the Dillian Whyte people, and hopefully we can put that fight together,” said Bob Arum to Boxing Social.

“What difference does it make now? Joshua can step aside. Whyte has got to step aside. Forget these step asides. Let Joshua fight Usyk again. He has a contract to do that and let Dillian Whyte fight Tyson Fury.

“Whoever wins those two fights then fights for all the belts. I mean, it’s just a few months until it’s sorted out. Let’s stop doing what really is tortuous to get step asides and all of that stuff. It becomes so complicated, and it’s a convoluted way of doing.”

Fury has been trying to encourage Joshua and his team to accept a step-aside deal so he can face Usyk for all the belts next year.

Joshua initially refused the offer but then later opened the door to potential negotiations citing “business” as the main reason.

The ‘Gypsy King’ was keen to face Joshua providing he progressed against Usyk after his recent victory over Deontay Wilder, but Joshua now faces a redemption task to bring his belts back to the UK.

However it is unlikely this will now take place after Joshua demanded to face the winner of any bout between Fury and Usyk, which would now require Whyte to also avoid cashing in his title shot.

Who will you back to win in a potential bout next year- Tyson Fury or Dillian Whyte? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below

‘AJ’ has always had his eye on a second revenge bid in a similar vein to the rematch victory he picked up against Andy Ruiz last year.

And Fury has cast his eyes away from Joshua and Usyk making a knockout prediction for his upcoming mandatory challenge against Whyte.

“How many days has he been my mandatory?” Fury joked in an interview with Behind The Gloves. “One! So welcome to the big GK [Gypsy King] world.

“I’ve known Dillian a long time, we go back a long way and he’s improved a lot over the last few years. “But the outcome will always be the same, I’ll knock him out if that fight happens.”

Fury will now negotiate his shot at Whyte with his team and a return to the UK is expected with the Principality Stadium in Cardiff touted as the front-running venue.