Usyk promoter bites back at roadblock threatening to derail Fury fight

Alex Krassyuk insists Oleksandr Usyk will face Tyson Fury next for all the belts (Image: GETTY)Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk doesn’t expect the IBF’s decision to order a mandatory defence against Filip Hrgovic to influence the Tyson Fury fight. The K2 Promotions chief insists that Usyk will fight The Gypsy King next for the undisputed crown in the Middle East.Krassyuk’s comments come after Eddie Hearn disclosed the IBF’s decision last weekend. Speaking during the DAZN broadcast for the Montana Love vs Stevie Spark event in Cleveland, Ohio, Hearn said: ‘We just got the news through that Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to fight Filip Hrgovic next. He is the mandatory challenger. We’ve actually requested an immediate purse bid for that fight. That’s going to be next for Oleksandr Usyk.’Often when a mandatory fight is called that blocks a major unification clash, the champion can request an exception from a sanctioning body to delay the order. However, the IBF are very strong on pushing their mandatories and placing the final decision in their No1 contender’s hands.With Hrgovic refusing to enter into negotiations for a step-aside fee by ordering an immediate purse bid, any requests from the champion’s side are now void. Usyk will now be forced to make the tough decision to either defend his title against the Croatian and delay the undisputed fight or vacate and do battle with Fury for three of the four major sanctioning body belts. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk were expected to square off in early 2023 (Image: GETTY)However, Krassyuk insists that Usyk won’t have to make that decision and will instead box Fury next with all-four belts on the line.”At this stage, I can anticipate that it will not influence the undisputed anyhow,” he told Sky Sports. “We expect his next fight to be for the undisputed so most likely it will take place in the Middle East.’MORE BOXING NEWS…Ruiz makes bold Wilder punching power claim ahead of fightPaul’s promoter clarifies Fury situation after YouTuber accepts offerFury left amused after Ross takes boxing dig at FerdinandUsyk was in preliminary discussions with Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum for a date around February or March next year. Arum revealed that talks had been positive but that he wouldn’t be securing a date until after Fury’s next fight against Derek Chisora on December 3.Without a date set in stone, the IBF was able to swoop in with their mandatory order which according to Hearn ruffled a few feathers.”I’ve already spoken to people involved in that fight [Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk] who are quite upset that it [Filip Hrgovic mandatory] is gonna stop Fury vs Usyk for now,” Hearn told iFL TV.”But that is nothing to do with me, we represent Hrgovic, we don’t represent Fury or Usyk at the moment and we’ve got a job to do for Filip Hrgovic which was, obviously he won the final eliminator [versus Zhang Zhilei], he’s mandatory, the IBF have called that.’