Former world champion Johnny Nelson has questioned whether Tyson Fury believes he can defeat Oleksandr Usyk.
The WBC heavyweight champion has been looking for his next opponent since a stoppage victory over Derek Chisora in December. Fury has since seen negotiations over an undisputed clash with Usyk and revived talks with Anthony Joshua fail to result in a fight agreement.
Earlier this year, Usyk seemed set to face Fury after agreeing to a 70-30 purse split in the ‘Gypsy King’s’ favour but those discussions still fell through. Former cruiserweight champion and Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson has dismissed the idea that Fury is running out of options and has claimed that the lineal heavyweight champion could have doubts about facing Usyk.
“The only reason Tson Fury is struggling to find an opponent is because of Tyson Fury. Pricing yourself out of a fight, making demands that don’t suit anybody else, what do you expect?” Nelson told Seconds Out. “That’s a Tyson Fury problem, it’s nobody else’s problem.
“I’m struggling to believe anything he says. Until it’s signed, sealed and delivered, I don’t care what he says. Tyson Fury has proved he is the best fighter in the world. I think he beats Usyk, but it sounds like Tyson Fury doesn’t believe he beats Usyk. So all the demands, all the negotiating, all the hustling might be to squeeze out as much as he possibly can financially, and I rate that.
“But I’m not going to be one of these fools who blows smoke up his ass. I see through it. You can fight, and you deserve the lion’s share, but I’m not buying that bulls**t (that there is nobody out there to fight)”
Usyk currently holds three of the four heavyweight belts as he bids to become an undisputed champion for a second, following his move up from cruiserweight in 2019. The Ukrainian is scheduled to face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois in August, with Fury targeting a fight in September.
Looking further ahead, Usyk has signed with Saudi Arabian promotion company Skills Challenge Entertainment, who are said to be targeting a major event for the end of the year. Usyk’s manager Alex Kassyuk stated earlier this month that Fury is set to receive a ‘take it or leave it’ offer to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion.
