Tyson Fury could miss out on astonishing record-breaking purse if fight vs Oleksandr Usyk doesn't go ahead
All eyes are currently on Tyson Fury this week, following reports that the Mancunian boxer may be set to pull out of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
The championship sportsmen were due to go head-to-head in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 17 February but yesterday - just two weeks before the eagerly-anticipated match - it was called off following a shocking turn of events.
Heavyweight legend Fury, 35, is said to have sustained an injury whilst training, which the father-of-seven needing 'urgent medical attention'.
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The firm promoting the big-name sporting event confirmed the alarming news on Twitter yesterday (2 February), revealing that he'd sustained a 'freak cut' during a 'sparring session'.
"The cut, which opened above Fury's right eye, required urgent medical attention and significant stitching," Queensbury Promotions tweeted.
"And will obviously require a period of recovery, scuppering any possibility of the fight with Usyk taking place on 17 February in Saudi Arabia."
A spokesperson also added: "Whilst this is still breaking news it is clearly a massive disappointment, after the work that has been done by so many people to finally deliver this historic event to the world."
They added that, only when medics have assessed the extent of the damage to heavyweight title holder Fury's eye, will organisers be able to set a new date for the ultimate boxing showdown against his Ukrainian opponent.
Speaking out about his injury, Tyson claimed this month: "I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed."
As well as worrying over his health, however, many sports fans are prematurely mourning the colossal loss of the earnings that The Gypsy King was set to rake in later this month.
That's because, according to boxing promoter Bob Arum, the champ would have walked away with a record-breaking purse for the fight.
Back in October, Fury was victorious against Cameroonian/French MMA star Francis Ngannou in the Middle Eastern capital, and according to Arum, the two bouts in Saudi Arabia could earn Fury a combined total of around $200 million (£164 million).
Ahead of his Fury's first fight - which he won via 10-round split decision - Arum told ES News: "If you told Tyson Fury he’s set to make $100 million, he’d really get p**sed off because he thinks, and I think he’s right, that he’s going to make a lot more. I don’t know the number, but it’s a lot more than $100 million."
"Fury, in that fight and the Ngannou fight, in the near future we are hoping that he comes in at around $200 million."
Not every sports commentator believes the incoming fight with Usyk will be as financially successful for Fury, however.
Eddie Hearn previously told press he reckoned the actual figure would be closer to £80 million for the second fight, which now hangs in the balance.
Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn said he thought Fury would be making over $100 million (£82 million) from the two fights put together, but the figure could grow if there was a rematch clause in the deal.
He said: "It's probably 30 and 70 and 30 and 80, but I've heard there's a rematch clause, whatever happens. So, it's probably plus.
"Maybe you want a rematch clause. Imagine if I said to you 'you get x for the first and guaranteed x for the second'. You’d go, 'f**k it, I might as well do it'."
I mean, either way, that's a pretty penny.
Topics: Boxing, Tyson Fury, Money, Health, Sport
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