TYSON FURY’s cousin reckons his historic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk won’t happen “any time soon.”
The pair have been locked in negotiations over the first undisputed heavyweight title fight in nearly 25 years since last December.
REUTERSTyson Fury and Oleksandr Usk are set to throw down in a historic undisputed fight[/caption]
GETTYBut the fight date has repeatedly been pushed back[/caption]
But Fury’s cousin Andy Lee doesn’t foresee the fight happening “any time soon”GETTY
The dust-up was initially due to take place in March but is now expected to go down in late April at the earliest.
But Fury’s cousin Andy Lee believes the fight could take place at an even later date, telling The Mirror: “I haven’t seen a lot of Tyson recently.
“We were together all the time when Joseph Parker fought [last month]. We trained before Christmas and after Christmas.
“I have no update on the fight because I haven’t spoken to him, but I don’t know – it’s on again, it’s off again, I don’t know.
“I don’t see it being done any time soon, it seems too good to be true.
“There’s nothing I can say about it because I don’t know anything about it, but they need to fight each other.”
Slick southpaw Usyk moved a step closer to becoming a two-weight undisputed champion in August when he retained the unified heavyweight titles with a split decision victory over Anthony Joshua.
And Lee believes the undefeated Ukrainian could be the toughest test of his cousin’s career.
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He said: “I think it’s a difficult fight for Tyson.
“Obviously Deontay Wilder’s got the power, but in terms of technical ability Usyk’s very good.
“I’m obviously backing Tyson to win. Look how [the fight with Cunningham] ended, that’s what will happen in this one.
“Tyson could fight him southpaw, try to box him. And if that doesn’t work Tyson can just maul him and eventually wear him down.
“He’s too big, too strong and he has all of the attributes, all of the advantages.”
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Despite the delay in finalising the bout, promoter Frank Warren is adamant Fury will trade leather with Usyk in April.
He told talkSPORT: The fight will 100 per cent take place on the last Saturday in April.
“Where it takes will be determined within the next six or seven days.
“If we can’t do what we’re being asked to for Tyson and Usyk, then the fight will take place in the UK and we’ll have time to promote it and so forth.”
“If it goes to the Middle East, it’s because they will pay a premium for the World Cup of boxing.”