A potential undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is now unlikely to take place in Saudi Arabia, according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.
The pair are most likely to meet in England but Coppinger says there is “a long way to go” before a deal can be reached which satisfies both parties.
Negotiations have been ongoing in recent months between the two teams.
Saudi Arabia was believed to be the most likely host of the contest with both fighters reportedly negotiating separate terms with the country.
Usyk had reportedly agreed his purse but it now appears any deal with the Middle East is off the table.
Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum told talkSPORT in recent weeks that Wembley Stadium in London would be the second option if the fight doesn’t go to Saudi.
A fight in the English capital will generate considerably less revenue however and so Arum indicated financial terms would need to be re-negotiated in the favour of WBC champion Fury.
Usyk claimed the WBA, WBO and IBF titles in a 2021 victory over Britain’s Anthony Joshua.
The Ukrainian repeated the result in Saudi Arabia six months ago to setup a huge showdown with WBC Fury.
Fury meanwhile defeated Deontay Wilder in 2020 to pickup the WBC version at heavyweight.
The 34-year-old has subsequently defended versus Wilder and countrymen Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora.
Boxing has not had an undisputed heavyweight champion in over two decades since Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield in their 1999 rematch.
Coppinger’s full report can be read here.
Thanks for reading and watching, hope you come back soon. Please Follow us on Social Media for updates…
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britishboxers_bbtv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/britishboxers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britishboxers
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/britishboxersuk
boxing #britishboxing
