Tyson Fury’s US promoter CONFIRMS ‘interesting’ talks with boxing bosses in Saudi amid rumours of Oleksandr Usyk fight
BOB ARUM confirmed he has had “interesting” talks with boxing bosses in Saudi Arabia amid rumours of a heavyweight tournament.
Anthony Joshua is in line to face Deontay Wilder in the Middle East with negotiations between the camps ongoing.
And it is believed hosts in Saudi also want to promote a super-fight between champion pair Fury and Usyk.
Fury’s US promoter Arum has now revealed he is in communication with the Saudis, opening the door to the unification bout.
He told Ringside Reporter Live: “I have talked to a representative of Skill Challenge that puts on these boxing events in Saudi Arabia.
“That is correct [that talks are ongoing], we know these people, we work with them in connection with the Jake Paul and Tommy Fury fight as far as US television was concerned.
“So we know who the players are and we’ve had some very interesting talks with them.”
Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, saw talks to meet in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed decider collapse earlier in the year.
The proposed April 29 Wembley bout was scrapped due to a row over the split for a potential rematch.
Instead, Usyk is now set to face WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, 25, with talks ongoing.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Meanwhile, Fury is in line to return in July and looked on course to fight British rival Joe Joyce, 37.
That was until Joyce suffered a shock stoppage loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang, 40, after his eye was so swollen the referee stopped the contest.
Now, Zhang is the leading name in contention to welcome Fury back to the ring, in a blow to Andy Ruiz Jr, 33.
Arum said: “We’re focusing on the Chinese kid that beat Joe Joyce.”
He added: “It’s likely for July, we’re trying to close that out over this (past) weekend.”