Tyson Fury sets a September 1 deadline to seal a deal for undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury has issued a September 1 deadline for Oleksandr Usyk to organise a £500million unification bout or else the Briton will cancel his plans to come out of retirement. 

In a social media post, the Morecambe-based heavyweight issued the ultimatum to the Ukrainian fighter, who once again beat Anthony Joshua on Satuday.

The much-anticipated unification bout would unite the division for the first time in almost 20 years.  

Tyson Fury has set a seven-day deadline for Oleksandr Usyk to come up with the money for a unification bout  

Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua on Saturday to retain his WBA, WBO and IBF titles

Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua on Saturday to retain his WBA, WBO and IBF titles

Fury issued the ultimatum in an Instagram post

Fury issued the ultimatum in an Instagram post

Fury told his followers in a video posted on social media: ‘To all these suitors out there who want to make the fight, I’m gonna give you all seven days – til September 1 – to come up with the money.

‘If not, thank you very much it’s been a blast!’

Having dropped the dramatic ultimatum on his Instagram account, Fury has since appeared on talkSPORT spelling out his demands for a potential fight.

The 34-year-old said: ‘I will come back but it has to be for obscene amount for money. 

‘This isn’t Anthony Joshua – where I would have done the fight for free in England – it is some foreigner who no-one really cares about. 

‘If they want me to fight this unknown quantity and give him the chance of legendary status in trying to beat me, they have to pay for it. 

‘This fight is purely about money. I’m happily retired, I don’t need money I’ve got plenty of money. If they want to see the Gypy King fight then they have to pay obscene amounts of money. 

‘It’s the biggest fight in the world, it needs to be the biggest pay-day in the world. Mayweather got 400 million for Pacquaio. I want 500 million for Usyk’

With both fighters heavily interested in the fight, the deadline should not prove to be too much of an issue for the 35-year-old Ukrainian, who has already made his intentions clear. 

The 34-year-old has since demanded '500 million' to take a fight against the Ukrainian

The 34-year-old has since demanded ‘500 million’ to take a fight against the Ukrainian

He told reporters in Jeddah: ‘I am convinced he wants to fight me. That is what he is dreaming of every day.

‘I want to fight him. And if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all. I am going to beat his a**.’

As soon as Usyk’s split decision points victory over Joshua was confirmed, the speculation naturally turned to a unification clash with the sport’s most out-spoken star. 

And Fury himself wasted no time in putting himself directly in the limelight by declaring both fighters ‘f****** s***!’ and urging promoters to ‘get your f***ing chequebook out’ to tempt him out of retirement.

The Gypsy King has often been labelled as the best heavyweight fighter in the division

The Gypsy King has often been labelled as the best heavyweight fighter in the division

Usyk outclassed Joshua during their hard-fought rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

Usyk outclassed Joshua during their hard-fought rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

And Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has already revealed that the mouth-watering event is close to being completed. 

He told  talkSPORT there is no reason why the fight should not be organised, and that a 50/50 split has already been agreed, with a site deal all that’s left to finalise.

‘At the end of the day, it’s where the most money can be generated,’ Warren said.

After the fight in Saudi Arabia Usyk told reporters Fury was the only fighter he is interested

After the fight in Saudi Arabia Usyk told reporters Fury was the only fighter he is interested 

The fight would see Uysk's WBA, IBF and WBO belts combined with  Fury's WBC title

The fight would see Uysk’s WBA, IBF and WBO belts combined with  Fury’s WBC title

‘There would [be huge demand to have it in the UK], but where would you put it on? We wouldn’t be able to put it on until next year.

‘It’s no good going to the Millennium Stadium, it doesn’t hold the same amount of people as Wembley does and can’t generate the same money. If it were to go on in the UK it needs to be Wembley and it can’t go on until the end of April or May next year.

‘We want to get it on before then. While everybody is hot to trot and there are no mandatories force on in the mean time.’

A fight between Fury and Usyk would see the heavyweight divisions first unified champion since British legend Lennox Lewis, who managed the feat almost twenty years ago. 

Warren also revealed that Fury has personally urged him to make the fight with Usyk next, saying: ‘I just got off the phone with Tyson and he wants this. He told me to get the fight done.

‘He realises the significance of this fight, as does Usyk, they are determined where they can generate the most money.

Warren believes the fight would be too big to stage in the UK, with the Middle East more likely

Warren believes the fight would be too big to stage in the UK, with the Middle East more likely

The Gypsy King has instructed Frank Warren to get an undisputed fight with Usyk over the line

The Gypsy King has instructed Frank Warren to get an undisputed fight with Usyk over the line

He also added: ‘We had talks before the fight with Usyk’s camp. We met with them three or four weeks ago, there’s no problems with them.’

Lewis himself was one of several pundits and ex-fighters to call for the fight in the aftermath of Saturday’s clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, writing: ‘Can we finally give the fans and undisputed heavyweight championship fight? 

’19 years is a long time and fans deserve it!’ 

Usyk retained his three titles with victory over the 32-year-old Brit, whilst Fury is the current occupant of the WBC title, following his victory over American Deontay Wilder in 2020.  

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