Tyson Fury’s failure against Oleksandr Usyk ‘extremely disappointing’, says WBC: ‘Window of opportunity won’t be here for a long time’ | boxing news

The failure of negotiations over an undisputed heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has caused dismay in the boxing world.

Instead of finalizing plans for a fight at the stadium in late April, the Fury-Usyk talks fell apart before the final points of a deal could be agreed.

The heavyweight division hasn’t had an undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999-2000.

Fury against Usyk could have been a special moment, given that it’s rare for a fight to unify the four major world titles.

Fury is the WBC heavyweight champion and defeated mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte last April before defeating Derek Chisora ​​in December.

Usyk won the WBA, WBO and IBF belts in 2021 and defended them in his August rematch with Anthony Joshua, but will soon have his own mandatory challengers to face.

As for an undisputed fight, the WBC fears that “that window of opportunity won’t be here for a long time.”

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said sky sports that the failed Fury vs. Usyk fight was “extremely disappointing”.

“The WBC has been extremely supportive of the ultimate unification bout between Fury and Usyk to determine the undisputed heavyweight division champion,” Sulaiman said. sky sports.

“It’s hugely disappointing that such a game doesn’t happen because that window of opportunity won’t be here for a long time, it will be difficult to line everything up because there are obligations for every organization.”

Fury is now looking for a new opponent for his next fight. The next two WBC heavyweight contenders are former champions Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz.

Wilder and Ruiz have yet to agree to fight, but the WBC previously called them up to box in a final eliminator for the heavyweight title.

“The WBC convention has determined that a final elimination will take place between Wilder and Ruiz to determine the division’s mandatory nominee,” Sulaiman said.

“The WBC was awaiting confirmation of the unification fight, so we will now review the next steps to take.”

Could Fury still fight Usyk?

Kalle Sauerland has watched the progress of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk negotiations.

Wasserman’s promoter Sauerland represents Filip Hrgovic, who will eventually be the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title.

Sauerland still thinks that while Fury vs Usyk might not happen next month, it could still happen later this year.

“I just feel like it could still happen, but okay, it seems not. But they seem to be arguing over a very, very small point of the contract if it’s just the split on the rematch,” Sauerland said. sky sports. “Maybe they still do.

“It’s unfortunate but I still think we’ll see that fight one day.”

He explained: “The 70/30 (split sack in favor of Fury), I get it. The way the old school fights were organized was, ‘You’re from the UK, you keep UK TV. keep Ukrainian TV. The rest we will divide and we will divide the door. If I calculate it like that, it ends at 70/30. That hasn’t changed over the years.

“They accepted 70/30 (for a first fight) so it’s not a blow to the Usyk team, they are great guys.

“The sport lives off the big fights that get made. Usually they get made,” he added.

“It’s not pretty. At the same time, boxing delivers these big fights. Half the drama in boxing is that they don’t get made and then get made.

“It’s part of the build. It’s nothing new…usually they’re made. I always think if it doesn’t happen now, it will happen later this year.

“Also, I’m going to put my big mouth back here, I think Fury vs. (Anthony) Joshua is done before they retire.”