Tyson Fury has demanded a staggering half-a-billion-pound payday to entertain any undisputed title fight this year.
The 'Gypsy King' retained his WBC title against Dillian Whyte back in April before confirming his planned retirement from the sport. Several people around Fury have suggested that he could be enticed into a clash for all the marbles, particularly if Anthony Joshua regains his WBA, WBO and IBF belts with sequel victory over Oleksandr Usyk this summer.
Fury confirmed he would be willing to face Usyk after making a retirement U-turn alongside promoter Frank Warren on Tuesday night. However, the WBC champion has now suggested he will remain retired and only fight in exhibition bouts unless a record-breaking offer materialises. "Even that £200million report today, that didn’t even tempt me," Fury told talkSPORT when asked about an undisputed bout. "That would be like half of what I would want to come out of retirement.
“I’d probably want half a billion to come out of retirement. I’m telling you the truth, if you want me out of retirement it’s going to cost half a billion. AJ’s bubble’s been burst, he’s been beat twice. He isn't a virgin anymore, he’s been battered from pillar to post by a fat man on three weeks’ notice and by a middleweight. If it’s half a billion, then I won’t say no, will I?
"What you’ve got to do is go and get half a billion and then the Gypsy King will come out and solve all his problems for him. Because if AJ gets beat again off Usyk, then there’s only gonna be one man to redeem this great fighting nation of the United Kingdom. I can solve all the problems, the embarrassment and all that stuff that’s going to happen."
Fury was set to meet Joshua for the undisputed titles last year, with the contracts signed, but was forced to abandon his plans and face a trilogy with Deontay Wilder. Now, Joshua must overturn his recent defeat by Usyk to set up a blockbuster encounter for all four major belts.
Do you think Tyson Fury will face the winner of Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk's rematch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Any money-spinning offers would likely come from Saudi Arabia, where Joshua's rematch against Usyk is expected to take place this summer. Offers from the Middle East were also on the table when Joshua and Fury held negotiations last year.
However, Fury's promoter, Warren, has admitted that his next fight will only take place in the UK. “We’ve done something on the Queensberry [Promotions] YouTube which will tell everybody what is happening today," Warren said during an appearance on talkSPORT's White and Jordan. “I think everybody is going to be happy with the interview.
“First of all, if Tyson fights, his next fight will be in the UK. What do I think of Saudi? We keep saying boxing and golf, every sport is there, everybody has gone there. Tennis players have gone there, they’ve had Formula One racing. Everybody is going there and they’re going there because they are paying well and that’s the bottom line of it all, they’re professional sportsmen.”
