Tyson Fury vs Olekandr Usyk - Will they, won't they?

The Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk saga is becoming a more drawn-out, will-they-won’t-they drama than Ross and Rachel in Friends (dated reference, sure, but it’s still being broadcast ad infinitum). The latest developments saw Fury demand a 70-30 purse slit, Usyk agree providing the ‘Gyspy King’ donates $1m to the unified heavyweight champion’s native Ukraine and the WBC ruler urge his rival to ‘Sign the contract’ amongst other, typically expletive-filled affirmations. Despite that final statement, the ball does appear to be in Fury’s court, after Usyk, as asserted by Eddie Hearn to us a few days ago, ‘Called his bluff’.

So, what are the key factors in Fury facing Usyk next or not…

Yes to Usyk

History
Fury can become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era if he defeats Usyk to capture the remaining three straps. For an ardent student of the sport like Tyson, named after a former three-belt boss of course, this must be a tantalising lure and a chance to bolster his standing among the greatest heavyweights of all-time. This achievement may even be sufficient to put him right up there with Lennox Lewis as the best British big man ever.

Avoiding public ridicule
A vocal band of fans are already accusing Fury of trying to avoid Usyk, given his penchant for changing the goalposts and the fairly recent negotiations for a superfight with Anthony Joshua that fell apart amid recriminations on both sides. Fury, as he often reminds us, is a ‘fighting man’ of traveller stock so to be accused of anything even approaching cowardice must rankle. For all the high-level boxing politics, are we really so far removed from the ‘Are you… scared?!’ taunts of the school playground.

Clearing up the division
Lewis admitted Mike Tyson was past his best when he vanquished him, but believed omitting that generational talent from his record would have undermined his legacy. Lennox also beat a raft of contenders and even the formidable Vitali Klitschko before he retired. Fury competes in a lesser era for heavyweights but his best wins to date are an ageing but excellent Wladimir Klitschko (before Joshua defeated the Ukranian) and previously undefeated dangerman Deontay Wilder. He can omit Joshua if necessary given the Brit’s two defeats to Usyk but surely must beat the latter to solidify his command of the division.

No to Usyk

It’s lose-lose
If Fury defeats Usyk, critics can claim the former undisputed cruiserweight champion was always too small to deal with a man of Fury’s stature. This school of thought has only been bolstered by Fury calling Usyk a ‘middleweight’ and many observers have claimed Fury is simply a bigger, stronger version of his rival. Should Fury lose, for many of the same reasons, this could cause irreparable harm to his legacy.

Money talks
It’s no coincidence that the Fury vs Usyk clash felt close to a sure thing when the fight was set for the Middle East. With finances abundant in the region, the total pot was far larger than is currently on the table, meaning the demands of both camps could be satisfied. Now, with the event tentatively planned for Wembley on April 29, the kitty is reduced and, to further complicate matters, as revealed to us by Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk, his man is negotiating a split of the revenue, while Fury is discussing a set fee – and being branded ‘greedy’ by his potential opponent. It’s not just that there is less money to go around. Fury can claim, with some justification having sold out Wembley against Dillian Whyte and produced big numbers at a stadium against Dereck Chisora, that he can make similar money to the Usyk fight against other heavyweights, and with far less risk of losing.

Joshua in the summer
One of those other heavyweights that could present a less challenging task than Usyk is the aforementioned AJ, who Eddie Hearn has said would be ready, willing and able to meet Fury in a UK superfight this summer. Fury would make more money for that than an Usyk matchup and it’s a contest that British fans have wanted for several years. With the Joshua carrot dangling, if he makes it past Jermaine Franklin on April 1, does Fury really want to take on his toughest challenge beforehand?