Tyson Fury performed yet another retirement U-turn by telling Oleksandr Usyk to show him the money for an undisputed fight.
Usyk edged out Joshua in their rematch in the desert on Saturday night to retain his three heavyweight world titles. The only belt missing from his collection is Fury’s WBC strap, which he has retained despite insisting he is retired.
Fury has been given until Friday to make a decision over his future but is now ready to negotiate a clash with Usyk – if the money is right. The Ukrainian went as far as to say that he would retire if the Briton was not willing to come to the table.
“I want to fight him and if I am not fighting Tyson Fury, I am not fighting at all.”
Fury is currently in Mallorca with his wife, Paris and his father, John, as the unbeaten champion prepares for the next leg of his speaking tour.
And he took to social media to dismiss Usyk’s ability while agreeing to meet him in the ring. “England has been relieved of its belts, but there is a remedy and solution. If you want those belts back then send in the Gyspy barbarian; send me in and I will relieve the Ukrainian dosser of his belts like I did the last Ukrainian dosser.
“But it’s not going to be cheap, if you want the best you have to pay. It’s going to be very expensive; so get your chequebook out.”
Fury came close to challenging for all four belts last summer when terms were agreed with Joshua for a clash in Saudi Arabia. But he was ordered to face Deontay Wilder for a third time, scuppering any hopes of crowning the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
But Fury is now expected to inform the WBC of his intention to retain his belt and he could then face Usyk back in the Middle East in December.
WBC president Mauricio Suliaman took to social media to call on Usyk to meet Fury in the ring, tweeting: “Let’s see him fight WBC champion. Usyk unified the cruiserweight and is a great inspiration. Tremendous win in Saudi.”