Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter confirms it was them who ‘pulled the plug’ on negotiations with Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk‘s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has confirmed they were the ones to pull out of the negotiations with Tyson Fury over an undisputed heavyweight title fight in April. 

Usyk and Fury had been back on fourth for months over a potential bout that would unify the division for the first time since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in March 1999.

However, their planned April 29 heavyweight unification bout was called off after the two parties failed to come to an agreement on various terms. Krassyuk has now confirmed it was them that decided to pull the plug on the fight. 

Speaking to iD Boxing, Krassyuk said: ‘There was a question, most frequently asked question and I want to use this opportunity straight away to say we pulled out of negotiations.

‘Team Usyk did that, myself and Egis Klimas we took this decision when we realised and got some proof that the fight is not happening. So the question is off, team Usyk pulled out of negotiations, we initiated that.’

Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has confirmed they were the ones to pull out of the negotiations with Tyson Fury over an undisputed heavyweight title fight in April 

 Usyk and Fury had been back on fourth for months over a potential bout that would unify the division for the first time since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in March 1999

Boxing fans across the world were eager for a deal to be struck between Fury – the current occupant of the WBC title – and Usyk – the current occupant of the WBA, WBO and IBF belts 

He finished by saying: ‘This is very important because some people keep asking on social media, who did that, what happened?, so now it’s completely clear, team Usyk pulled the plug out.’

Krassyuk hit out at Fury while negotiations were going on. He said: ‘Even if Oleksandr Usyk if would get zero for the fight, it would still not be sufficient for Tyson to cover his [demands].

‘Normally when a fighter doesn’t want to fight, he asks for something impossible, and then it’s not happening. That’s according to my experience. I’ve been in boxing for almost 20 years and that’s what I’ve seen so many times. 

‘When you’re looking for an opponent for your fighter and finding a proper option, and he doesn’t want to come, he says, “pay me 100 instead of five”.’ 

During negotiations, Fury posted a video to social media saying the Ukrainian and his team were worth no more than a 70/30 purse split in his favour and insisted he would drop his offer by one per cent every day until the deal was signed.

Usyk wasted no time in responding and took to social media to accept the offer on the condition that Fury donated £1million to Ukraine after the fight, amid their ongoing war with Russia. 

However, the fight fell through as Fury reportedly moved the goal posts once again. As a result, Usyk and his team pulled out of negotiations.