Sergey Lapin speaks out on non-existent Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk negotiations
Fury's promoter Frank Warren assured fans that Tyson Fury's fight against Oleksandr Usyk will go ahead on April 29th despite doubts emerging over the much-anticipated date. Both fighters publicly agreed to a 70-30 purse split in a series of social media videos before Fury confirmed his training camp was underway, adding he only needed six weeks to get in shape for the Wembley bout.
However, Sergey Lapin told Best Sports Betting Canada that Tyson Fury is NOT preparing for a fight with Oleksandr Usyk and the silence from his camp 'is deafening'.
Usyk's manager also warned that time is ticking to make the fight, but also on Tyson's legacy, who could become known as "the giant who ran from the middleweight if he doesn't answer our call and make the fight".
Tyson Fury is NOT preparing for a fight with Usyk and the silence from his camp 'is deafening'
SL: "On Friday, Tyson Fury posed in front of the cameras with Joseph Parker, declaring he’s starting training camp. Hours later we are hearing from a member of his entourage that it’s all smoke and mirrors. Fury has not started camp, he is not preparing to fight Usyk. He may well be making noise on social media, but I can tell you the silence from his promoters is deafening."
Tyson Fury constantly disrespects boxing and it's fans and his greed is not a good look
SL: "Fury once again misleads the fans and disrespects boxing. There’s a pattern of misdirection when it comes to Fury. Did he ever donate that money to the homeless people that he promised early on in his career? What happened to his retirement? At one point he said 50-50 was the correct split of the purse to face Usyk, what happened to that? Now we’re at 70-30 and we’re awaiting the next hoop to jump through. How far will you continue to go to avoid Usyk, Tyson? Who knows what new demand we’ll receive this week, will it be the colour of our shorts on fight night, or a certain ring walk song we’ll need to use? Maybe it's all mind games, to try and get into Usyk's head, but Fury should know Usyk is built differently. He’s unbreakable."
Anthony Joshua deserves so much respect for 'testing himself against the best' – Fury doesn't do this
SL: "Anthony Joshua stood up and was counted. Joshua should have the respect of all boxing fans for wanting to test himself against the best. Too often we hear Fury is the people’s champion. Joshua is the real people’s champion in the UK. He’ll knock out Jermaine Franklin and in the future will do the same to Fury, but we want Fury first. Negotiations with AJ were very straightforward – they always are when you have a warrior that wants to fight – with Fury it has been cowardly. Usyk is 100% ready for battle. We’re ready to come to Fury’s house and show him who the best in the world is. He can prove himself by signing a contract, but time is ticking – not only to make the fight – but also on Tyson’s legacy. He will always be known as the giant who ran from the middleweight if he doesn't answer our call and make the fight."
Frank Warren hits back
"I've said this from the beginning, we'll get this fight over the line," said the Queensberry Promotions head during a Monday appearance on talkSPORT. "We've been working hard to do it and we will get it over the line.
"Both fighters want it. It's not a question of Usyk wanting it and Tyson not wanting it. Tyson wants the fight, he's the one that put it out there and said 'come on, let's get it on. Here are the terms.'
"To say that Tyson would avoid any fight; this is the guy that went to Germany to fight Wladimir Klitschko, who at his time was the best heavyweight of his generation, had no problem going over there and actually won the fight.
"This is the guy that went off to the United States not once but three times to fight the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division [Deontay Wilder].
"Please, the one thing about Tyson is that he's got balls, he's got balls bigger than… just massive balls. There's no problem with him doing the fight."
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