Tyson Fury has blasted rival Oleksandr Usyk in a social media return rant as he pleads for the pair to meet in the ring.
The 'Gypsy King' looked set to meet fellow world champion Usyk in an undisputed clash last month, but talks failed to materialise following his public demands on social media. It was expected that Fury would instead pursue a keep-busy fight this summer after Usyk walked away from the negotiating table, with Andy Ruiz Jr and Zhilei Zhang shortlisted for the July date.
However, a fight deal with either alternative opponent has failed to come to fruition, with Fury now left without the possibility of a fight until later in the year. His promoter Bob Arum has suggested talks are now back on the table for the WBC king to meet Usyk in Saudi Arabia this December as part of a four-man tournament.
And after returning to social media for the first time in several weeks, Fury has burst into a huge rant suggesting he remains ready to touch gloves. He first wrote: "Can't wait to KO this little rat b*****d. Cowardly, yellow, ugley [sic], bogeyed bum! Keep running rabbit and I have heard nothing from your team. I'm ready anytime."
He later continued in a video update on his future: "I’ve tried to fight that little midget Usyk, and he’s not wanting anything; I’ve tried to fight ‘AJ’ [ Anthony Joshua ], he don’t want no smoke. I’ve tried to fight everybody. “Who’s out there? Who’s available? I’m looking to fight anybody, any time, any place. I cannot wait to fight Usyk, AJ. Whoever’s out there, I’m f***ing you up.”
Fury was hugely critical of his rival Usyk when talks collapsed previously, who he blamed for the entire collapse insisting it was not his wrongdoing. However the Ukrainian later suggested he was left unhappy by the terms publicly proposed by his rival including the removal of a rematch clause.
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It is expected that the Middle-East will act on their interest in staging the fight for all the heavyweight belts in December, which could see Fury out of action if he is required to wait. Despite fresh hope being given by promoters in relation to the huge showdown, Usyk has suggested talks are currently at a stalemate.
"I can’t say anything about the fight with Tyson Fury yet but at the moment the fight is not planned, since the negotiations, let’s say, are at an impasse," Usyk told Vringe. "For Fury, boxing is not only a sport, but also a show. And there is another factor - money. If he wants to draw intrigue, he has the right, but no one will run after him or make concessions.
"The fight will take place sooner or later. And everything will be decided in the ring. A big man who has very good abilities in boxing and in life but this big man is very afraid of losing."
