By Barry Holbrook: Oleksandr Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas says they’re “done” on their end in the negotiations for a fight against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in early 2023.
Now, they’re just waiting for the moody Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs), who IBF, WBA & WBO champion Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) refers to as a “borracho [drunkard].”
If Fury makes a mess of the negotiations with Usyk similar to how he wrecked his talks with Anthony Joshua, we won’t get an undisputed clash early next year.
Usyk wants the fight with Fury, but he’s obviously got a backup plan in case the negotiations go up in flames. Deontay Wilder and Canelo Alvarez are two appealing options for the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Usyk if he can set up a fight with Fury.
Deontay is highly interested in fighting Usyk, but it’s unclear whether Canelo feels the same way.
“Everything is done from our side. Everything. So it’s only one guy who can say, ‘Yes, we’re going,’ that’s Fury,” said Egis Klimas to Secondsout about the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk negotiations.
“Then we’re going to go and unify titles with Chisora,” said Klimas when asked what happens if Derek Chisora upsets Fury on December 3rd.
“Boxing is boxing. One time you can beat, one time you can lose, one time you can draw, and all kinds of different things happening.
“We’ll think about that,” said Klimas when asked if Usyk will retire if he defeats Fury to become the undisputed champion. “How about we vacate all the titles and go back and pick up all the cruiserweight titles?
“As Oleksandr said in his interviews, ‘Fury is borracho [drunkard],’” said Klimas when asked if he feels Fury is difficult to negotiate with due to his constant mood swings.
“I already used to it. It’s no news. The size difference, of course. It’s not in Usyk’s favor. He’s a giant. Don’t take it bad. He’s a good fighter. He’s a talented fighter, first of all.
“Second, he has a good boxing IQ. So he’s a very, very dangerous fighter. A lot of respect for Anthony [Joshua] always. Before the fight, after the fight, during the fight. He got a little bit loose after the second fight, but it’s okay.
“The bigger guy got beat by the smaller guy, so, of course, he wasn’t happy. It’s understandable,” said Klimas.
