OLEKSANDR USYK has told Eddie Hearn he wants more money to fight Anthony Joshua.
AJ is being lined up to fight the Ukrainian in August if Tyson Fury cannot agree a step aside deal with Deontay Wilder.
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Joshua and Fury were all-but ready to put every heavyweight belt on the line on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
But that was until the news broke that a US judge ruled in favour of Wilder in arbitration, meaning Fury must now either pay the American to step aside or give him a third fight in their series.
Matchroom promoter Hearn, a driving force in securing a deal for the all-British unification, hopes the historic clash can still be saved.
But he admitted it is out of his hands and is lining up a back-up option in Usyk, 34, who is Joshua’s WBO mandatory challenger.
However, Usyk sent Hearn a message earlier today regarding the potential bout – and he appears to want big bucks to face the Englishman.
On a video clip posted to his Instagram, he said: “Hi Eddie, I want money. More money.”
Talks are believed to already be underway for AJ to face Usyk on either August 21 or 28 should Fury choose to fight Wilder.
Hearn has given Fury’s side until the end of the week to make a decision on their next fight before progressing talks with Usyk.
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He said on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel: “I have been focusing on Plan A. The only fight we had our mind on was Tyson Fury.
“We hope that that fight can still take place on August 14.
“The game changed last night where we have to have a plan B in place, and probably a plan C as well.
“We have a couple of different options; of course, the one that springs to mind immediately is the WBO mandatory of Oleksandr Usyk.
“They have been quite patient and I think really, we are in a situation where if Team Fury don’t get themselves together, get their act together, by the end of this week, we will have no option but to look for an alternative fight.”
Fury, 32, dethroned Wilder, 35, of the WBC belt in February 2020 but their contract included an immediate rematch.
That never came to fruition amid the coronavirus pandemic and the Gypsy King’s team argued the stipulation expired in October.
As a result, they entered talks with Joshua, 31, all while Wilder took his case to civil court.And after months the decision went his way, meaning Fury is faced with either fighting him or negotiating a step aside deal.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
