OLEKSANDR USYK has hit out at Tyson Fury but suggesting the Brit is trying to copy boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
However, the Ukrainian boxer insisted that Fury is only a “very bad” copy of the American great.
ReutersOleksandr Usyk has hit out at Tyson Fury[/caption]
Hulton Archive – GettyThe Ukrainian suggested Fury is a bad copy of Mohammad Ali[/caption]
A proposed fight between Usyk and Fury fell through in March with the two parties unable to agree a deal.
It is believed Usyk was even prepared to agree a 70-30 purse split in Fury’s favour to make the fight happen.
But according to Usyk’s agent Egis Klimas Fury kept making more demands which made reaching a compromise impossible.
Since the collapse of the fight the fighters have been quiet, and now Usyk has made his dig at the ‘Gypsy King’.
He told Volodymyr Kobelkov on his YouTube channel: “He is trying very hard to copy the great Muhammad Ali.
“But the copy is very bad.”
On the breakdown of negotiations, Usyk added: “He says, ’70/30, I am the king. It’s all thanks to me.’ I don’t respond to that.
“I understand that this is a mental game.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
“The king is the king. And the king does not need to shout that he is the king.”
Usyk, 36, now looks set to instead face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, 25, per the WBA’s request.
But former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, 37, has thrown his name into the hat for a mega-fight with the WBA, IBF and WBO champion.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua, 33, said he would be willing to fight Fury after he beat Jermaine Franklin at the 02 Arena.
Fury has also been called out by Youtube Logan Paul for a cage fight.
Speaking to BT Sport, he said: “You know what I would do because I saw Tyson talking s***?
“I would fight Tyson in a MMA fight.”