OLEKSANDR USYK already has a replacement lined up in case Tyson Fury pulls out of their Saudi straighter.
Usyk and Fury, 37 and 35 respectively, will throw down for all the heavyweight marbles next month in the division’s first undisputed bout in nearly 25 years.
Their historic undisputed showdown has fallen through THREE TIMES alreadyGETTY
Team Usyk have lined up Filip Hrgovic as a replacement for the Gypsy King in case he pulls out of the Saudi showdownGETTY
The pair’s dust-up has fallen through THREE TIMES already, collapses which have prompted Team Usyk to draw up a contingency plan in mandatory IBF title challenger Filip Hrgovic in case the Riyadh Rumble crumbles again.
The Ukrainian’s promoter Alex Krassyuk told Boxing Scene: “Usyk has actually had a triple camp for this fight.
“He started in September for the fight to take place last December.
‘We showed up to the Ngannou fight to step in the ring to announce the fight for the undisputed.
“But his team jumped and said he didn’t look that good, so Usyk gave him some space to prepare at his camp in Saudi Arabia.
“We were then meant to fight on Feb. 17, then we were rescheduled for May. Tyson Fury has withdrawn four times already from this fight.
“I’ve not got too much confidence in the rematch happening, by the way.
“If Tyson Fury loses, will he have the confidence to step inside the ring again?
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“Theoretically he can, but we all know what happened in the rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.
‘The IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic will be the replacement if [Fury] does it again.
“He is getting ready for Daniel Dubois on June 1, but instead he will have to be ready on May 18 to replace Tyson for any reason.
“Otherwise we will lose the [IBF] title. It was one of our conditions.”
Fury and Usyk were supposed to do their long-awaited dance in February but the bout ended up being postponed after the former suffered a horror cut in the final spar of his training camp.
The Gypsy King looked to be in a career-best shape for the historic rescheduled showdown, which he’s adamant won’t go the distance.
He said: “I don’t know because I’ve never fought him before, so I couldn’t really answer the question
“Styles make fights, that’s what happens. He’s only had two or three fights heavyweight, and to be honest I haven’t been that impressed with him.
“He does what he’s got to do, he’s got his wins, he gets paid, he gets the job done and goes home.
“That’s what it’s about. Is he good enough to beat the Gypsy King?
“I don’t think so, but good luck to him. If he is, he is. If he is, I’ll shake his hand. If he’s not, yet again I roll on to another one.
“I think I’ll take him out inside seven rounds.”
A horror cut in his final spar of training camp forced Tyson Fury out of his February fisticuffs with Oleksandr UsykQUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS