Oleksandr Usyk says the only fight he is chasing is a reunification bout with Tyson Fury.
The WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion has targeted a springtime meeting with the WBC champion but warned Fury’s unpredictability meant it still hung in the balance.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has targeted an early 2023 fight against Usyk with Fury using his bout next month against Dereck Chisora as a stepping stone.
Ukrainian Usyk, meanwhile, told PA: “Right now, my team is seeking conversations with Tyson Fury and he is a really unpredictable person so we can’t guarantee when.
“For me, the idea would be to fight maybe early February or the beginning of March, like March 4, because I am an orthodox Christian.
“During the great fasting before Easter, I do not fight so it should be all before or then after orthodox Easter (April 16).
“I want to fight with Fury because I need the fourth belt and I don’t want to ight with anyone else until I have the fourth belt.”
Talk of a Fury-Usyk reunification bout emerged after Usyk successfully defended his belts against Anthony Joshua, although Usyk ruled out fighting in 2022 because of injury.
Usky said his dream venue for the fight would be in his home country although that looks doubtful with the ongoing invasion by Russia. A Middle East venue is expected to host the fight with Saudi Arabia the current frontrunners.
“The organisers are tring to figure out there they can earn more money,” said Usyk. “For me, yes, I would really like to fight in Ukraine and Ukraine is really capable of hosting this kind of fight.
“I would be really happy to see it happen in the Olympic Arena in Ukraine. But it is not me who chooses the venue so I guess it will be Saudi Arabia.”
