Tyson Fury has been bearing the brunt of the blame following his failed negotiations with Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. However, Frank Warren claims the narrative surrounding the Gypsy King is false and says it’s time to set the record straight.
Warren sat down with Mail Sport to discuss exactly what happened with Joshua and Matchroom, before going on to discuss the current situation with Usyk – the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion.
The Hall of Fame promoter started by addressing the narrative surrounding AJ and Fury – claiming Joshua turned the Gypsy King’s latest offer down to earn more money fighting in Saudi Arabia.
The pair first sat down to discuss the Battle of Britain bout last year and had been locked in negotiations for months before the fight – which was scheduled to take place on December 3, 2022 – was called off.
The Gypsy King said he was furious at AJ for ‘wasting his time’ but returned to the table in May of this year – issuing the 33-year-old with a formal offer for a bout this summer.
Frank Warren (above) has revealed what really happened between Fury, Joshua and Usyk
Warren sat down with Mail Sport to conduct an exclusive interview about the negotiations
Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport about what happened when they sent AJ’s team a formal offer last month, Warren said: ‘Nothing. We sent the offer. My son George spoke with Eddie Hearn and he said he was going to come back but he didn’t come back.
‘So, George ended up meeting with Freddie Cunningham from 258 which is AJ’s management company. He said they were waiting to do a fight in Saudi which is for a lot of money and said basically we’re not going to take the fight.’
When asked whether money was the sole reason behind Joshua turning down the fight with Fury, Warren said: ‘What else can there be. We offered him 40 per cent of the income. They are looking for these big, big pay days in Saudi Arabia, like a lot of sports are.
‘It’s not just him, the golfers have done it, there’s Ronaldo, Messi, God knows how many footballers. The F1, WWE. They [Saudi Arabia] are determined to make it a sporting destination. I get that and I understand all of that.
‘So, it’s all about the money they are anticipating they are going to get paid there. Good luck to them if they get it, but don’t say it’s about anything else because it’s not. It’s not about the glory, that’s for sure.
‘If it was about the glory, they’d both [AJ and Oleksandr Usyk] have taken the fight. One of them would have jumped in for the fight. It’s not about that, it’s about the money. You can go and check all of the interviews. I’ve said this for a long time now, that’s where they are at. It’s been proven now.’
Warren explained how Queensbury sent Joshua a formal offer for a Battle of Britain clash
Warren says AJ turned down the offer because he wanted to make more money in Saudi
Warren met with Mauricio Sulaiman – the president of the WBC – about Fury’s mandatory
When asked whether Hearn was trying to protect Joshua’s career by turning down a fight with Fury, Warren said: ‘Who is he going to fight for the title though?
‘Let’s say Tyson did fight Usyk and lets say Tyson wins that fight, it’s the same happening. I think Tyson beats Usyk all day long. AJ has already lost to Usyk twice. But, I don’t think Usyk will even get to Saudi. I think he will get beaten beforehand.’
Nevertheless, AJ could be named as Fury’s mandatory challenger, with Mauricio Sulaiman – the president of the WBC – stating earlier in the week that the sanctioning body would be stepping in to order a fight for the Gypsy King.
Warren confirmed talks with Sulaiman had taken place and said that they had discussed the possibility of fighting Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz and Joshua. However, he stated the ‘money in Saudi’ had curtailed any potential progress.
Warren said: ‘I met with Mauricio Sulaiman, the President of the WBC yesterday. He said that they had ordered Deontay Wilder vs Andy Ruiz to fight in a box-off to become the mandatory a little while ago.
‘But, neither of them have come back and the reason for that is, again, Deontay Wilder is looking for a big payday in Saudi and they’re talking about him fighting Joshua in Saudi in December.’
Warren went on to add: ‘Wilder is the no.1 and he is out if they call the mandatory. The next one is Ruiz – who asked for £20m. So, if they now say Ruiz you have to fight the no.3 [Joshua] to get the mandatory and they both don’t want it, that’s dead.
‘Now you go to Joshua who is at no.3. You can now fight for the title, you are the mandatory. If I was his promoter I would say we’re going straight to the purse bids. No negotiations, straight to the purse bids. But he won’t.
‘It proves what he is all about. It’s all about the money. It’s the same as the golfers and same as the footballers like Ronaldo and Benzema. I get it, I understand it’s huge money but that’s what it’s about for them. Money.’
Warren said Deontay Wilder is looking for a ‘big payday in Saudi’ and wants to face Joshua
Warren explained how Mexican heavyweight Andy Ruiz wanted £20m to face the Gypsy King
When asked whether Saudi Arabia’s investment in boxing was helping or hindering the sport, Warren told Mail Sport: ‘It’s a double-edged sword. It’s huge money for the fighters. I get that and I understand that.
‘They’re professional sportsmen and they’re no different from any of the other guys who have gone to ply their trade out there. But, it stops some fights from happening. If it wasn’t for Saudi, these fights would have happened. That’s the fact of the matter.’
Oleksandr Usyk recently announced he had signed with Saudi Arabian promoters Skills Challenge – who are responsible for staging major events in the Middle East in recent years.
Skill Challenge Entertainment will represent the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion alongside Alex Krassyuk of K2 Promotions. Together, they will look to stage the majority of Usyk’s fights in Saudi Arabia.
Following the announcement of their partnership, Krassyuk said K2 Promotions and Skill Challenge Entertainment were in a position to make Fury a formal offer for a heavyweight bout in December.
When asked whether Queensbury had received an offer, Warren said: ‘I have been waiting since January for an offer from Skill Set Challenge. That hasn’t come through yet.
‘They said that they will be sending one. But, they said they’re not in a position to make any offers yet because they need to go through the ministry to get the funds to make these things happen. It has to be signed off by the government. So, that’s not happened yet.
‘They’ve said they’re not in a position to make an offer but as soon as they are in a position to make the offer they will make one. When we get one, we will consider it.
‘In the meantime, their spokesman or representative Derek Chisora said they’ll pay £100-£150million and as I’ve said, send the contract. We would do that in a heart beat.’
Warren said the Saudi’s investment in boxing is a double edged sword – claiming it’s beneficial for the boxers in terms of their paydays but says it prevents fights from going ahead
Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk has partnered with Skill Challenge Entertainment and said they are sending Fury a formal offer in the next few days
However, Warren has said they are still waiting for an offer and claims they are not in a position to give Queensbury an offer because they need the Saudi Arabian government to sign it off
Krassyuk made it clear the offer tabled would be a ‘take it or leave it’ deal – making some fans fear the fight could be off the cards given how negotiations have gone in the past.
However, Warren made it clear Fury would take the fight if the terms were right. The Queensbury promoter said the Gypsy King would jump on the offer if the numbers being discussed were accurate.
When asked what the offer needed to include for them to say yes on the spot, Warren said: ‘Lets see what they come up with. All these numbers being banded about. If it’s an offer with the numbers we are hearing, it’s a no brainer. But, in the meantime, Tyson wants to fight.’
Fury has held the WBC title ever since he beat Wilder in February 2020 – winning their bout via 11th round KO. The Gypsy King went on to defend his title in April 2022 by beating Dillian Whyte via 6th round TKO.
Fury returned to the ring in December 2022 to face Chisora, who he beat via 10th round TKO. However, the 34-year-old has been out of the ring ever since – despite trying his best to tie down a fight.
When asked how Fury was feeling amid the delays, Warren told Mail Sport: ‘He’s got very frustrated. He’s trained hard and he’s absolutely fit as a butchers dog. He first thought he was going to fight in March, then it was April and it keeps getting pushed back.
Warren went on to add: ‘He’s in Thailand at the moment and he comes back on Saturday so we will talk on Saturday. But, he will fight in September whatever happens.’
Fans are desperate to see a heavyweight bout between the WBC champion and the WBA, IBF and WBO champion. It would unify the division for the first time since 1999
Fury has not fought since his heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora (above)
Warren says Fury is eager to get back in the ring and insists the Gypsy King is disappointment by the delays – which his potential opponents are responsible for
Fury has received the brunt of the blame for the failed negotiations. Fans have accused the Gypsy King of playing games due to his various social media posts and the deadlines he previously set AJ.
However, Warren has made it clear Fury is not to blame and said the Gypsy King has decided to refrain from social media as his opponents were using his posts as an excuse to bail out of negotiations.
When asked why Fury released a statement on Instagram saying he would be taking a step back from social media, Warren explained: ‘It’s come from both of us. At the end of the day, that is one of the excuses [his opponents are using].
‘You started this off [this interview] by saying that Eddie Hearn and AJ don’t know what he’s going to say next or whatever. But, he’s not saying anything. We are saying it as his promoters. We made the offer.
‘We made the proposal in writing and we made all of those things but nothing came of it. It’s pointless to keep doing it. Most of the time he’s been doing it and setting these deadlines was because I kept going back to him saying I’ve just spoken to them, they’re coming back to us in 48 hours and it will be done then.
‘But, then it doesn’t happen and it’s another three days. In the end, he says to me, this is not going to happen. I say it will and that I think it will but he’s been right every time. He said Joshua won’t fight and Usyk won’t fight me in the UK. He’s been absolutely spot on.’
Nevertheless, Warren did confirm that Fury will be back in the ring in September. He told Mail Sport a venue and date has been booked – claiming details will be released in due course.
Warren did confirm that Fury will be back in the ring in September. He told Mail Sport a venue and date had been booked – claiming details will be released in due course
