UFC president Dana White has hit out at Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk over ‘shocking’ delays in making their undisputed title bout.
The heavyweight duo have been locked in talks over an April 29 fight that would see a four-belt champion crowned for the first time in division’s history.
Queensberry Promotions
Fury and Usyk have been talking about fighting each other for months
Just last week, the pay-per-view blockbuster seemed to be dead in the water as ‘The Gypsy King’ and Usyk struggled to reach a financial agreement for a Wembley stadium showdown.
However, Fury then made a shock public offer of a 70/30 purse split in his favour, which Usyk unexpectedly accepted despite previously asking for 50 per cent of the financial pie.
Since then, Usyk’s team has suggested the fight will not happen.
On Friday, his promoter Alex Krassyuk tweeted: “Much ado about nothing… The rat race and monkey business.”
And his manager Egis Klimas added: “The deeper we go the more chance to pull out the plug. Sorry to our fans!”
‘The Joker’ appears to have grown tired of talking and has now set Fury a deadline to sign to fight him and if it’s not met he’ll move on to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF belts against somebody else.
Twitter: @usykaa
Usyk is losing patience
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“The points for agreement were sent to Fury’s side,” Usyk wrote.
“The deadline is set. The clock is ticking. The ball is on #Greedybelly’s side now. We did everything in our power to make it happen Tyson Fury.”
The UFC boss is a big boxing fan but was unaware Fury vs Usyk is not finalised.
White said at the UFC 286 post-fight press conference: “It’s scheduled, no? Oh it’s not? Welcome to boxing, boys. Is it shocking? Yes.
“Is it ‘shocking?’ No. It’s just that is boxing, that’s the way that that sport always seems to play out, the big fights that should happen never happen.
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White was in London this weekend for a massive fight
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Lerone Murphy and Gabriel Santos fought on the UFC 286 prelims
“And when they do, it’s always late and that’s the stuff that used to drive me crazy as a fan and it’s literally part of how I designed this company to not be. We try to make the big fights when it’s time to make the big fights.”
White brought up the UFC 286 clash between undefeated prospects Lerone Murphy and Gabriel Santos to prove his point.
He added: “Tonight on the prelims you saw an 11-0 vs 10-0.
“That’s on the prelims. Tell me any show with any organisation anywhere where they have two guys like that.
“And that fight was technically incredible, right? You don’t see that stuff ever, except here and that’s by design.”