Krassyuk: “We Hope Usyk vs Fury Could Happen At The End Of The Year”

Undisputed is Still the Top Priority for Team Usyk

Alex Krassyuk hopeful Oleksandr Usyk can fight Tyson Fury for undisputed later
(left to right) Oleksandr Usyk, Alex Krassyuk, Tyson Fury | credit: Reuters

Alex Krassyuk Says The Usyk vs Fury Undisputed Showdown Could Occur Later


After months of negotiations, a proposed April 29 battle for undisputed status at heavyweight between unified champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13, KOs) and WBC champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) will not happen on that date. With April 29 off the table, is the Usyk – Fury battle gone for good?

THE BLAME GAME

During an interview with the media source Seconds Out, Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, said that capturing the WBC belt and winning the undisputed title is still at the top of their agenda. Exhausting all measures to make the fight in April, Krassyuk harbors no ill feelings toward Frank Warren, co-promoter of Fury.

Instead, Krassyuk is placing fault directly on the reigning WBC champion, who he accused of being greedy and making unreasonable financial demands. After feeling disrespected and insulted, Team Usyk said enough was enough.

THINKING LONG TERM

It’s a bitter disappointment for everyone involved. When asked when is the earliest possible date they could fight one another, Krassyuk said the following:

“Who knows? Maybe it could happen at the end of the year. We never know, or maybe never, but we hope.”

What’s now on the plate of the unified champion are two mandatory obligations. One is a match with reigning WBA Regular Champion Daniel Dubois. The other is IBF mandatory contender Filip Hrgovic.

Krassyuk said the first choice is for Usyk to fight Dubois. However, the WBA Regular champion is on the mend from knee surgery following a third-round stoppage win over Kevin Lerena in December 2022. If Dubois is not fit to fight, Usyk would face Hrgovic.

Fans were excited about a spring showdown between Usyk and The Gypsy King who have established themselves as the two best heavyweights on the planet. Now fingers are crossed that they will, at long last, fight one another at some point.

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About Mike W.1943 Articles
Mike is the host of boxing podcast "Pound 4 Pound Boxing Report" and is a Senior Writer for 3kingsboxing.com.