British boxing champion Tyson Fury has announced his terms for the much-anticipated unification bout against Ukrainian champion Alexander Usyk – and the latter appears to have accepted.
“Usyk, you and your team are worth 30 percent. Take it or leave it,” Fury said in an Instagram story on Friday: “From today, I’ll deduct one percent for every day you’re wasting.”
Usyk also responded via social media. “Greedy belly, I accept your offer. 70:30,” the Ukrainian said in a 30-second video: “But you promise to donate a million pounds to Ukraine immediately after the fight and for every day of delay you will Pay a percent of your earnings to the Ukrainian people. Deal?”
The negotiations between Fury, heavyweight world champion of the WBC association, and IBF, WBA and WBO champ Usyk have recently reached a dead end. Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk recently told English radio station Talksport: “Originally we agreed on 50:50, but then Tyson asked for a little more money,” he said: “So we made it clear that we are ready to do 60:40 do, but the winner gets 60.”
The fight was originally expected for April 29, with Saudi Arabia being traded as a possible venue. However, this seems to have broken down. Most recently, Wembley Stadium in London was considered the favored option for the mega-fight, the winner of which would be the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
Fury is still undefeated in 34 professional fights, Usyk is also undefeated in 20 fights so far.