Why Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk title fight is off and what happens next

Back in October the world of boxing was given a taste of what could be when upon his defeat of Derek Chisora, Tyson Fury hurled a barrage of ringside taunts at Oleksandr Usyk.

The Gypsy King made it clear the Ukrainian would be his preferred next opponent in a fight that would crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999, catching the attention of fans globally.

Ever since that moment, negotiations have been taking place between the two parties to make the bout happen this spring. There has been much debate about whether a conclusion would be reached in recent months, until now, as Usyk's team has finally confirmed the unfortunate collapse of any talks.

This is news that will no doubt leave the masses disappointed, leaving questions over why this is the case. Well, the Manchester Evening News can explain the events that have played out over recent months to help provide some clarity.

Since negotiations began there have been plenty of stories surrounding the contracts that would need to be signed in order to make the fight happen, with stumbling blocks regularly cropping up.

First, it was the location. Saudi Arabia was heavily suggested as a host earlier this year, until we reached March, when Wembley Stadium became the likely venue for a fight on April 29th.

There was also hints that the finances involved would prove too difficult to either team to shake hands on, but then it became clear that for this fight, The Cat would be willing to accept Fury's request of a 70/30 split of earnings.

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The straw that broke the camel's back, it turns out, was the purse for a contractually-agreed rematch between the two