By: Sean Crose
“Our impression was that he didn’t want to fight.”
That’s what Oleksandr Usyk promoter Alex Krassyuk said about Tyson Fury in an interview with iFL TV. “He’s avoiding the fight because he hasn’t been in training.” Of course, Krassyuk is talking about the much-anticipated title fight between Fury and Usky, which is supposed to take place next month in London. However, no contract was signed. Furthermore, Fury has brought up several points of contract-related controversy over the past few days.
Krassyuk clearly suspects it’s a ruse on Fury’s part, that the linear and world WBC heavyweight champion doesn’t really want to face the IBF, WBA and WBO Usyk heavyweights in the ring this spring.
“He was out of training camp until yesterday,” Krassyuk said in the video, “and only five weeks left. He claims it’s still enough for him but how can a champion prepare for an undisputed heavyweight bout in just five weeks and just because his hoax is called? It sounds unrealistic. That’s why he doesn’t have a coach, he doesn’t have a workout partner, he doesn’t have the infrastructure of the training camp, which is a really complicated thing to do. That’s why for us it’s not realistic at the moment.”
Team Usyk has now repeatedly pointed out that Fury’s most recent assertion, that there should be no rematch clause in the contract, is meaningless, as they claim that Fury was the one who originally requested the rematch clause to be initiated. .
“At this point we have Tyson Fury shouting on Instagram that 70-30, accept it or drop it,” Krassyuk said. “This is the first time we have heard from him about his requests. Usky called bluff. He accepted it and asked him (Fury) to promise him that he would donate a million pounds for his country, for our country, for Ukraine, for people in need. So Tyson went out and accepted.” Now, however, there seems to be a rematch clause issue to be resolved. “What will he say next?” Krassyuk asked rhetorically. “No gloves? No chests? No rings at all?”
Krassyuk made sure to add that he admires Fury, if not the way this man does business. “I want to make it clear to everyone that we are not insulting Tyson personally,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for him as a champion because of his achievements… what we don’t like is the way he conducts business, is the way he treats the unified champion.” (He adds, “If it’s part of a mind game, that’s okay.”).
And will Usyk agree to Fury’s latest request?
“Decision belongs to the fighter,” Krassyuk said about his fighter.
