I can’t say I’m shocked (or even mildly surprised). Everything would have to have gone off perfectly to make April 29 and they rarely do in fights of this magnitude. I don’t begrudge Fury his demands for the planned fight for 4/29. He’s the lineal champ and has that right. Fine. However, trying to claim a 70/30 split in his favor in a rematch after a fight he LOST?? That’s ludicrous. Maybe he felt like Usyk would just fold to get the 4/29 fight done, but I’m glad he didn’t. If Usyk wins the fight (if it ever happens) then he’s the lineal champ and HE gets to call the shots.
I'm amazed that, after all this time negotiating, they've managed to screw up the first chance of having an undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. I very much doubt there'll be a chance of doing this for a long time as there's mandatories set up for the 3 belts Usyk holds.
Considering Fury is getting the good end of 70:30 for the first fight, the only fair arrangement for the rematch was for whoever won the first fight to get the good end of a 70:30 split. Although #GreedyBelly didn't agree that this was fair of course.
Warren says Fury didn't want a rematch clause, which can only be because he was so confident of winning the first fight. But if that's the case, why does the rematch split for Usyk winning the first fight matter to Fury?
It clearly matters very much to Fury and so he must really think there's a chance that Usyk could win the first fight - in which case it can't be true that he didn't really want a rematch clause.
Unless he had plans to retire if he lost to Usyk and wouldn't try to regain the belts - imo very unlikely.
Dan, what are your thoughts about the idea Fury is “ducking” Usyk by placing these hurdles.
It’s hard to say Fury would duck him or anyone based off his resume of fighters. Are these request common in negotiations? Do they seem radical enough that maybe Fury would implement them to avoid Usyk?
I also feel that other reporters may have signaled that this deal was done and ready to go a little prematurely and now fans are left standing wondering what went wrong. Even though 4/29 was quickly approaching.
Sugar Hill said very clearly that his return to the US after the Okolie fight was already booked for 28 March. He was not in the UK to train Fury after he finishes with Oklolie. The first fight was never on in the first place. Don't get distracted that this supposed cancellation due to Fury's greed about wanting to get 50-50 if he loses the first fight.
I can’t say I’m shocked (or even mildly surprised). Everything would have to have gone off perfectly to make April 29 and they rarely do in fights of this magnitude. I don’t begrudge Fury his demands for the planned fight for 4/29. He’s the lineal champ and has that right. Fine. However, trying to claim a 70/30 split in his favor in a rematch after a fight he LOST?? That’s ludicrous. Maybe he felt like Usyk would just fold to get the 4/29 fight done, but I’m glad he didn’t. If Usyk wins the fight (if it ever happens) then he’s the lineal champ and HE gets to call the shots.
I'm amazed that, after all this time negotiating, they've managed to screw up the first chance of having an undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. I very much doubt there'll be a chance of doing this for a long time as there's mandatories set up for the 3 belts Usyk holds.
Considering Fury is getting the good end of 70:30 for the first fight, the only fair arrangement for the rematch was for whoever won the first fight to get the good end of a 70:30 split. Although #GreedyBelly didn't agree that this was fair of course.
Warren says Fury didn't want a rematch clause, which can only be because he was so confident of winning the first fight. But if that's the case, why does the rematch split for Usyk winning the first fight matter to Fury?
It clearly matters very much to Fury and so he must really think there's a chance that Usyk could win the first fight - in which case it can't be true that he didn't really want a rematch clause.
Unless he had plans to retire if he lost to Usyk and wouldn't try to regain the belts - imo very unlikely.
So lame. And it looks like we don’t even have Wilder vs Ruiz anymore. I thought this was supposed to be another golden age for the heavyweights?
Well that’s disappointing. I would guess Fury has a legit fear that he could be outdanced.
Dan, what are your thoughts about the idea Fury is “ducking” Usyk by placing these hurdles.
It’s hard to say Fury would duck him or anyone based off his resume of fighters. Are these request common in negotiations? Do they seem radical enough that maybe Fury would implement them to avoid Usyk?
I also feel that other reporters may have signaled that this deal was done and ready to go a little prematurely and now fans are left standing wondering what went wrong. Even though 4/29 was quickly approaching.
Sugar Hill said very clearly that his return to the US after the Okolie fight was already booked for 28 March. He was not in the UK to train Fury after he finishes with Oklolie. The first fight was never on in the first place. Don't get distracted that this supposed cancellation due to Fury's greed about wanting to get 50-50 if he loses the first fight.
They are both greedy it won’t worry fury he will make big money fighting joe Joyce in the summer which will be a better fight than the usyk fight