Promoter Warren suggests that Middle East could host Fury-Usyk unification bout

Promoter Frank Warren said on Tuesday that Tyson Fury is up for a unification title fight against Oleksandr Usyk and that the bout could take place in the Middle East.

Usyk defended his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia on Saturday when he defeated Anthony Joshua by a split decision 113-115, 115-113, 116-112 verdict at the King Abdullah Sports Centre Arena.

The 35-year-old Ukrainian was made to work far header by his British opponent than in their first bout in London almost a year ago but the brilliance of Usyk again shone through in Jeddah.

And in the aftermath of his latest boxing masterclass, Usyk immediately began calling out Fury, the unbeaten WBC champion, who said he was retiring from the sport after knocking out Dillian Whyte in the sixth round of their bout in April and that “no amount of money” could tempt him back.

But the 34-year-old British fighter has, not for first time in a rollercoaster career, since rowed back on his retirement plans stating in June that he was “one hundred per cent” returning to boxing.

And Warren, Fury's co-promoter, has said that the fight against Usyk will happen, with a possible date of December 17 – the day before football's World Cup final is being held in Qatar – mentioned in reports.

“Usyk’s team and the fighter said immediately after the fight he wants it. I know Tyson wants it. Myself and [US promoter] Bob Arum, we want it. It will just be how we make it work financially,” he told talkSPORT on Tuesday.

“There will be big demands from both boxers, and rightly so. This is a unique event. This is the biggest heavyweight title fight since Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier.

“It’s a huge fight because both are undefeated, all the belts are there to be won. A lot of