Fury bout on the cusp of location
TYSON FURY’S promoter Frank
Warren hopes to confirm this week that the Gypsy King will fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
The two fighters’ camps are deep in talks over a clash which looks set to take place in April or May.
Warren is hopeful that a venue can be agreed in the coming days so they can officially announce the battle for Fury’s WBC title and the Ukrainian’s WBA,
WBO and IBF belts.
He said: “We hope we will have an announcement this week and we are working very hard to make this fight happen with Usyk.
“All parties are really trying to get this done and it’s not an issue of us disagreeing on things, it’s basically what we are working on behind the scenes to find the best venue for it.
“Boxers want to be well paid, this is our World Cup, this is our Thrilla In Manilla, our Rumble In The Jungle, so it will go where it makes the most money.”
Fury’s (right) US promoter Bob Arum said last week that the ideal place for the bout would be Saudi Arabia as it would be the most lucrative. However, he also admitted Wembley Stadium could yet host what is the most eagerly anticipated contest of the year.
Arum also said that, if it were to be in London, the purse would likely be affected with a different split to the 50-50 being mooted.
That’s because a fight in the UK would attract more British fans and higher payper-view sales due to Fury’s participation.
Usyk’s last victory, his rematch against Anthony Joshua last August after taking the Brit’s titles a year earlier, was held in Saudi’s Red Sea port of Jeddah.
And the money on offer from the Middle East would likely eclipse what they could make in Fury’s homeland.
■ AN Anthony Yarde victory over Artur Beterbiev on Saturday would be one of the finest wins ever by a UK fighter, according to Frank Warren.
The Queensbury promoter said: “The bookies have Anthony as a massive underdog but, do you know what, odds are there to be upset and he can do it.
“It is going to be a really special fight.”