Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Donagh Corby

Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte purse bids set to be delayed amid Oleksandr Usyk talks

Promoter Eddie Hearn expects to see tomorrow's Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte purse bid delayed for a third time as talks continue between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

An offer from the Middle East could include step aside money for Whyte and Anthony Joshua, who are both set to fight for their rival's world titles, to allow Fury and Usyk to fight for the undisputed crown.

And with Whyte still locked in a legal battle with the WBC over the 80-20 purse split that favours Fury, the purse bids are now set to be delayed again.

Hearn is prepared to make a substantial bid for the fight, which was mandated towards the end of last year, but doesn't believe he will be doing so tomorrow.

"I doubt we're going to see it," Hearn told Mirror Fighting . "We're ready but I doubt we're going to see it."

Tyson Fury could yet face Oleksandr Usyk (Getty Images)

And despite Bob Arum revealing recently that there is now "chaos" over both Fury and Usyk's heavyweight title fights, Hearn expects that they will continue as planned with their obligations to Whyte and Joshua.

"There are substantial amount of money available," he continued. "And there are people who want to try and make this route happen.

"But it's not just about the money, it's about the plan - AJ doesn't want someone to come and give him money and saying 'right, see you later mate'.

"He wants to know what the actual plan is, and that's the same with Dillian Whyte, he's been waiting a long time and if he has to wait a couple of more months that's ok but how does it work?

"Right now, I still think the favourite is the two fights, but we'll see what happens.

"It's all very complicated, and that's why it's taking such a long time and sometimes it will go quiet and then resurface."

Should Anthony Joshua step aside? Let us know in the comments section below

Fury's promoter Arum also doubts purse bids will take place tomorrow, but has admitted that the unification bout with Usyk is still on the table.

They were initially set to happen earlier this month, with two dates delayed in the hopes that Fury and Whyte's teams could strike a deal to make the fight happen

"It is total chaos,” Arum told talkSPORT. “What’s happening is just promises coming out of the Middle East about doing a unified fight with Usyk and Fury, and is Dillian Whyte going to step aside.

“And people that have absolutely no contractual ties – like Frank Warren’s Queensberry and our Top Rank do – are getting involved.

“It’s a typical terrible kind of situation, but hopefully it’ll get sorted out and probably it will get sorted out with a purse bid on Friday.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.