Tyson Fury’s promoters could be just days away from completing the deal which will see the Gypsy King face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title with talks ongoing for the contest to take place either in Saudi Arabia or Wembley Stadium in late April. Both options are on the table. If the mega-fight takes place in Saudi Arabia, both fighters will be doing separate purse deals with the Middle East backers.
Bob Arum, Fury’s US promoter, told GarethADavies.com.
“I think the fighters want to fight each other, the question is where and the question is under what terms. If the fight ends up in Saudi Arabia each fighter will make his deal with the Saudis.”
“Usyk’s people tell me that they have a deal that they’re satisfied with and now and if the Saudis are truly interested they’ll make a deal with us for Tyson Fury and we’re off to the races. The fight would take place either before or after Ramadan but the fighters don’t need a long window to prepare if it’s after Ramadan because neither are Muslim.”
It is understood that Saturday April 29 is the date being considered for either Wembley Stadium or a venue in Saudi Arabia.
Arum added: “I’m going over to London next week for the Artur Beterbiev – Anthony Yarde world title fight so I’ll be liaising in person with Frank and George [Warren] and we’ll make whatever alternate arrangements we have to…”
That alternate arrangement is for Wembley Stadium, with a source revealing to Telegraph Sport that over 400 thousand fans applied for the 90,000 tickets for Fury-Dillian Whyte last April at England’s national football stadium.
“Everybody on both sides wants to do it, there’s no question about it,” explained Arum. “Hopefully it’ll get done. If not I think Fury has a number of options, one of whom is Joe Joyce which would be a massive fight in the UK…and in America, come to that.”
Arum also urged caution for those making Fury, the WBC champion, a huge favourite against the Ukrainian Usyk, holder of the IBF, WBA and WBO belts he claimed from Anthony Joshua.
“You sort of figure that Fury beats Usyk, but remember Usyk is a Ukrainian, and these sons of guns are real fighters. Whether it’s in war or in the ring you can’t count out a Ukrainian. I mean Usyk, who’s beaten him? Anybody?”
Arum would also like to see Fury be more active this year. “Absolutely, Fury is a great great entertainer, he’s a great attraction, and to have him fight only twice a year is a waste. Remember an athlete has just a limited time, and so he should make hay while he is still active, and I’d like Fury if it’s possible to fight three or four times a year. Why not? He’s a great great entertainer, great attraction, and he’ll draw massive crowds whenever he fights.”
As for Fury and Joshua still taking place, Arum added: “If Joshua pulls himself together, it would be a big fight. I don’t know if Fury Joshua would be any bigger than Fury-Joe Joyce right now.”