OLEKSANDR USYK has told Tyson Fury their undisputed Saudi decider is December 23 or NEVER.
After debutant boxer Francis Ngannou used his MMA skills to drop the 35-year-old WBC heavyweight king, beat a gash into his forward and a whack a welt under his left eye, Frank Warren claimed his star man would NOT be fit for the Christmas cracker.
APTyson Fury secured a controversial points victory over Francis Ngannou on Saturday[/caption]
AFPThe Gypsy King was knocked down in the third round by the boxing novice[/caption]
GETTYPromoter Frank Warren has claimed Fury’s December 23 clash with Oleksandr Usyk is now off[/caption]
GETTYUsyk has issued the WBC heavyweight king an ultimatum[/caption]
The hall-of-fame boss even suggested Fury has the power to push the historic clash with Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO boss back to as late as February.
But SunSport understands December 23 is written in the £200million three-fight contract and only a serious injury and bonafide doctor’s note can delay the bout by a couple of weeks – at most.
After watching Fury’s disastrous showing that controversially earned him a split-decision win, Usyk said: “I don’t think anything about Tyson Fury‘s performance, I let him think about me.
“I just need him on December 23.
“The fight is happening on December 23, we have it in the contract. It’s December 23 or never.”
We understand the IBF could strip Usyk of his world title if he does not defend it in the four-belt battle before the end of the year, to allow frustrated long-standing mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic to compete for it.
That means the clock is ticking on negotiations and Usyk has a short and sharp answer ready for Team Fury when they reach out to discuss a rearranged date.
“No.” he said without the usual need for a translator. “I need Tyson.
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GETTYOleksandr Usyk was ringside for Tyson Fury’s lacklustre display against Francis Ngannou[/caption]
“He’s been saying things about me, calling me a middleweight and other things.
“I want to finish my beautiful 20-year career and road with Tyson Fury. I need to fight him now.”
Fury and Usyk came face-to-face at Friday’s star-studded gala dinner and even shared a hug.
But Usyk later told SunSport his kids hate the trash-talking Englishman for dissing daddy.
The Usyk brood didn’t get to watch the punishing 10 rounds Fury suffered but the eldest boy Kyrylo was pleased with the news.
“My children didn’t get to watch the fight, he said. “They have to be in bed early for school and training.
“But the morning after I spoke to my eldest son and he asked me who won. I told him Tyson Fury and he seemed happy.”
GETTYOleksandr Usyk has urged Tyson Fury to vacate his title if he doesn’t want to fight on December 23[/caption]
London 2012 golden boy and undisputed cruiserweight ruler Usyk is yet to hit back at any of Fury’s verbals, despite “ugly gap-toothed rabbit” being one of the few printable insults he has faced.
He explains he is not interested in trash talk or street brawls and he just wants to settle the score with the 6ft 9in 20st giant once and for all.
“We are intelligent people so we don’t need to fight in the street for nothing,” he said.
“We are normal people, we have to behave with dignity. Now and on December 23.
“I’m not fighting for money. I have a different mentality.
“It’s about being the undisputed world champion at two weights, the two biggest weights.
“It’s not about money or belts. It’s about history.”