Oleksandr Usyk fires warning to Tyson Fury ahead of rematch as champion opens up on his 'incredible' motivation
Oleksandr Usyk has issued a warning to Tyson Fury stating that he stands to lose a multi-million-pound pay day if he withdraws from their rematch.
Usyk defeated Fury in May to become the undisputed heavyweight boxing world champion and they are set to face off again in Saudi Arabia on December 21 for three of the four world titles. Despite Fury's silence since his first professional loss, Usyk is confident that the Brit will step into the ring four days before Christmas. When questioned about the possibility of Fury pulling out, Usyk told Ready To Fight: "No way, because the ball's in our court now.
"He has a contract and so do I until December 31; we have to hold this fight up to and including then. If he pulls out December 21, he will lose all of his money and dividends and won't be a man of his word anymore." Usyk nearly ended the fight in the ninth round before winning on points to become the first holder of all four heavyweight belts. The Ukrainian confessed that certain aspects of the fight took him by surprise.
"Now we have started, we're going to the training camp," he added, reports the Mirror. "From the last fight with Tyson Fury, I learned a lot about him, a lot of the things that I saw in the fight I didn't see on TV with all the fights that I saw of Tyson Fury.
"So we will prepare even better and God willing, with God's victory, we will show our best shape again. I have incredible motivation. I'm often told that I've done everything, what is next, there is nothing further. But we just work every day , every day is a new day."
"I am motivated by my team, my family, my faith in God, my country, my wife, my children, everything around me. Everything that grows with me and everything I love motivates me.
"I am