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Mike CoppingerESPN
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are closing in on a deal for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight – planned for April 29 at London’s Wembley Stadium – after both sides notified the WBA that they have agreed to terms, president Gilberto Mendoza told ESPN on Friday.
Mendoza said he received confirmation from both fighters’ promoters that a tentative agreement is in place ahead of the WBA’s 5 p.m. ET deadline for Usyk to defend his title against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
Fury, in an Instagram video posted on Friday, called on Ukraine’s Usyk to accept 30% to the Englishman’s 70% of the cut for one of the biggest fights boxing can deliver. Fury holds the WBC title and is ESPN’s No. 1 heavyweight (No. 7 pound-for-pound); Usyk owns the WBA, WBO and IBF belts and is ESPN’s No. 2 heavyweight (No. 3 pound for pound).
As part of the deal, Usyk asked Fury to donate $1 million to Ukraine as the country continues to defend itself from Russia’s invasion.