Oleksandr Usyk has denied his "belly" nickname for rival Tyson Fury is trash-talking ahead of their potential grudge meeting.
The Ukrainian star is hoping to have the chance to settle his heavyweight feud with WBC champion Fury in a targeted undisputed title clash on April 29 at Wembley Stadium. It was hoped the fight had moved one vital step closer to confirmation with the fighters publicly agreeing on the date and purse split for the event.
However today talks have appear to have stalled for yet another time after both men voiced their opposing views on the insertion of a rematch clause into the fight contract. With formalities yet to be completed, the pair have still been engaging in bitter back-and-forth exchanges online as the tense build-up continues to unfold.
Throughout the verbal barbs, Usyk has been referring to his rival as "belly", which he has claimed is down to Fury's physique as a heavyweight. However the undefeated star has insisted this is not part of his own trash-talking approach to the 'Gypsy King' as the pair prepare to potentially touch gloves.
"I wouldn't say that there is a lot of trash talk. In my opinion, trash talk is dirty stuff when you humiliate your opponent and call him or her somehow offensive," Usyk told Parimatch when revealing the reason for his new nickname for Fury. For example, in my case, when I call Tyson Fury “Belly”, it seems to me to be a little bit cute. A belly, What's so offensive about it? Especially since he has one!
"He, in his turn, speaks to me a little harsher. But it doesn't humiliate me in any way. He keeps talking and talking, let him talk to himself. It has become popular where people want to be famous or show up. But first, you have to prove yourself as a good specialist, and then you can add some light trash talk, if you can, or not at all. But when you start with trash talk and enter the ring and fail, it's a disadvantage."
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A deal has not yet been reached despite the ongoing negotiations, with neither fighter able to confirm a date until the final arrangements are made with the contract. It appears a rematch clause on Usyk's side could stall the showdown once again after the initial breakthrough, as Fury wants to be done with the rivalry after the opening meeting.
Usyk has recently defeated Anthony Joshua twice on his way to becoming unified champion and he will be given a strong chance of beating Fury despite coming into any potential clash as an underdog. Meanwhile the home favourite Fury will be confident that he can be crowned the first undisputed champion since 1999 on UK soil.
