Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: Manager confirms that the fight won't happen on April 29
Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk is reportedly not happening on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk is NOT happening on April 29th, Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas has now declared. Klimas said: “No matter how much Usyk compromised, he was pushed for more.” He added that they hope for Usyk to return in a mandatory defence in June/July. [@SteveKim323]‼️ Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk is NOT happening on April 29th, Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas has now declared. Klimas said: “No matter how much Usyk compromised, he was pushed for more.” He added that they hope for Usyk to return in a mandatory defence in June/July. [@SteveKim323]
Fans were reassured by Fury’s promoter Frank Warren that the deal for the fight would be over the line and the two have agreed to the April 29 date. However, it looks like the compromises that Oleksandr Usyk is being asked to make despite accepting a 70-30 split in Fury's favor are proving to be too much.
Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk recently told talkSPORT that Tyson Fury is doing his level best to get the Ukrainian to withdraw from the fight by making unusual demands:
“His opponent is ducking him. I don’t feel this fight will happen on April 29, whatever conditions Usyk will accept.”
Reports suggest that the two sides could not agree on ‘material terms’.
Oleksandr Usyk's plan could now be a mandatory defense of his WBA title against Daniel Dubois in the summer of 2023. The WBA has extended their deadline to April 1 for Fury vs. Usyk to be agreed upon but will most probably order Usyk vs. Dubois for the WBA heavyweight championship.
Tyson Fury’s trainer details game plan for Oleksandr Usyk fight
Tyson Fury’s side remains fairly confident that the fight with Usyk will take place in April. His head trainer in recent years, Kronk Gym head honcho SugarHill Steward, detailed the plan they’ve put together for Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight fight. He told Sky Sports in an interview:
"If that's what they agree on and that's what he wants to do, if he feels he can get ready for April 29 and fight Usyk then he'll just have to train extra hard for that. It's a short bit of time but I believe Tyson has the ability and the physical attributes to handle the situation. The game plan is always a knockout."
Steward is the nephew of legendary boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward, who trained former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. He now trains fighters out of the famed Kronk Gym and is currently in the UK with Fury for his training camp.