Oleksandr Usyk has spoken for the first time since his eagerly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury was considered a non-starter.
The Ukrainian star, one of two men, along with Fury, who owns a portion of the heavyweight crown, was in talks to face his big rival at the end of this month before talks eventually collapsed, sending both fighters in different directions.
Usyk, a former undisputed champion at cruiserweight, had been eager to face Fury in an attempt to become a four-belt champion at a second weight.
For now, it appears that his wait will go on with the IBF, WBA, and WBO ruler widely expected to face Daniel Dubois in his next fight. Usyk though is still keen on facing Fury and he’s had his say on his fellow champion.
“I see that nothing is going on, he is trying to play us, and I said, ‘That’s all, bye,” said Usyk when speaking with Volodymyr Kobelkov.
“He says, ’70/30, I am the king. It’s all thanks to me.’ I don’t respond to that. I understand that this is a mental game. The king is the king. And the king does not need to shout that he is the king.
“He is trying very hard to copy the great Muhammad Ali, but the copy is very bad.”