Tyson Fury set to fight Oleksandr Usyk in ‘early March’ but venue for historic undisputed fight yet to be finalised
TYSON FURY’s historic undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk is on course to take place in “early March”.
Negotiations over the clash of undefeated champions resumed after Fury’s Tottenham trilogy fight with Derek Chisora last December.
PATyson Fury resumed negotiations over a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk after his Tottenham trouncing of Derek Chisora[/caption]
REUTERSThe pair faced off after Fury’s third defence of the WBC heavyweight title[/caption]
PAPromoter Frank Warren has revealed the bout is in the works for ‘early March’[/caption]
Elbow surgery was set to rule Fury, 34, out until after the spring, but promoter Frank Warren has revealed it’s all systems go for a March meeting.
When asked to provide an update on the fight, the Queensberry Promotions chief told iFL TV: “The date will probably be in March.
“That’s basically where we’re at, early March.”
The oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a serious contender to land the undisputed showdown – the first since Lennox Lewis’ rematch with Evander Holyfield 24 years ago.
But a site deal has yet to be finalised – leaving the door open to a potential Wembley war for all the heavyweight marbles.
Warren continued: “No location has been finalised, once we get the fight done then the rest will just fall into place.
“We’re still negotiating as to the site but until we’ve got the fight done then we’ve got nothing.
“Let’s get the fight done and then get to where it’s going to take place.
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“You never know, it could take place at Wembley.”
Both parties will move quickly to finalise a venue for the bout, which will go to the bidder willing to stump up the most cash.
Warren said: “The decision will be made with the site very quickly because we want to get it on in March.
“And if we want it to go on in March it has to go on sale soon, no matter where it takes place.
“We are not going to mess around and put one against the other, it is going to be about where the boys can make the most money.”
Fury and Usyk, 35, sized one another up after the Gypsy King’s lopsided beatdown of old rival Chisora.
REUTERSTyson Fury reckons Oleksandr Usyk will be an easier night at the office than against Derek Chisora[/caption]
And the WBC champ reckons the slick southpaw will be an easier night at the office than against Chisora.
He told iFL TV: “I don’t think it is a tough fight: “I don’t think it’s nowhere near as tough as old Del Boy [Derek Chisora].
“He will not stand up to those punches that Derek did against me.
“When I watch the fight between him and Derek, whether people want to admit it or not, it was a 50/50 fight.
“It might have been 55/45, but it wasn’t a landslide.
“It wasn’t like he didn’t win a round, like he didn’t against me.”
