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WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte blew a deal that would have seen him face WBA, WBO and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk next.
Fury 31-0-1 (22) was widely expected to face Joshua 24-2 (22) this year in a long awaited grudge match before the latter dropped his unified championship to Ukrainian southpaw Usyk 19-0 (13) on points in September. Joshua enacted the immediate rematch clause in his contract.
The 33-year-old Fury had a mandatory title defence due against Whyte 28-2 (19) but was keen to set up a four belt unification bout against Usyk that would have required Joshua and Whyte to accept step aside money to allow the bout to take place.
When a step-aside deal could not be reached, Fury moved on to a fight with Whyte that will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on April 23.
“I was told [the step-aside deal] was real close,” Fury told iFL TV. “We were all ready to do our thing, sign, and do everything to make the fight happen. But they didn’t. It was a big load of crap.
“They were making so many demands. They wanted this, they wanted that. Whyte wanted bits and pieces. Joshua wanted these things. They were trying to control everything. The positive out of this is I get to do my fight April 23rd.
“I’m the top of the tree. I don’t wait for other people to decide what they’re going to do with my career. I fight on my times and my dates. When they become world heavyweight champion then they can determine when they want to fight.”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine threaten to derail any plans of Usyk’s to defend his heavyweight crowns but he has received approval from the government to travel overseas to prepare for the Joshua rematch at a venue and date to be announced.
“With Uysk he couldn’t be ready until the end of May, so that wasn’t going to happen,” Fury said. “Dillian Whyte’s the mandatory and he has to have that fight, so I’m looking forward to that.
“The only reason this fight fell out [with Usyk] is ‘AJ’ wanted more money, last minute. And he thought I was going to give him an extra $5 million.”
“He wanted me to clean up his dirty washing, didn’t ya big boy?” Fury continued. “Didn’t ya, you big boy lifter? I’m a bit too smart for all that. I’m not cleaning anybody’s dirty washing. Deal with your own business.”
Fury has previously stated he will walk away from the sport after facing Whyte.
“Why do I have to be one of those people who went on too long and got injured?” Fury told BT Sport. “Just had one too many fights and blew it all for what? A few more quid?
“I want to retire on top – unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world. I want to do a Netflix documentary, a Hollywood movie and be a good husband, father and son.”
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