Oleksandr Usyk recently gave an interview to the YouTube channel "Kyiv Cake", where he discussed the past negotiations and the collapse of the fight.
Below, we present a brief excerpt from the interview.
Interviewer: Alex Krassyuk mentioned that you're a very principled person and could walk away from negotiations at any moment. When did you genuinely want to leave the negotiations, and how many times did that occur?
Usyk: I mentioned it for the first time, and then the second time, I realized nothing was happening; he was trying to play games with us. So I said goodbye. Initially, I gave a warning, and the conversation continued. There was no negative reaction from their side, so I reached out to Alex Krassyuk, Egis, and the rest of the team, saying, "Guys, we're getting nowhere; he's dragging this out to the last minute, avoiding commitment by making up excuses and reasons not to proceed. I told them, "We're tired of playing by their rules. Let's have some self-respect and just do our own thing. After all, we have to focus on ourselves, not be led by others' whims." That's it.
Interviewer: Is it true that Fury mentioned such an amount that even if you waived your fee entirely, he still wouldn't have enough?
Usyk: Yes, he was talking about astronomical figures in the millions, claiming, "I am a king; I am expensive," and so on. I'm not sure if I can disclose the exact amount he mentioned, but I believe it was more than $100 million.
Interviewer: Just for him?
Usyk: Yes, and he would say, "I'm Tyson Fury. I'm a king; I deserve a lot." I responded by telling him that a fighter's greatness isn't measured in money, millions, or even tens of millions. The greatness of a fighter lies in their battles and their journey. Earning $100 million may seem significant now, but a year later, someone else might earn $200 million, and people will forget about your $100 million. However, if you defeat everyone and hold all four belts, that's a legacy that people will remember for a very long time!