Oleksandr Usyk has pretty much summed up what everyone else is thinking regarding his ongoing fight saga with Tyson Fury as both men prepare for the next bouts — just not against each other.
A deal between the two heavyweights looked to have been agreed earlier this year but was ultimately called off back in March following disputes over the final purse split, with both parties blaming the other and fight fans left frustrated.
Unsurprisingly, there has been plenty of choice words exchanged since, with John Fury even demanding Usyk “apologise for trying to bamboozle the public“, but now the 36-year-old has called on everyone involved to stop talking and start acting.
🗣 Oleksandr Usyk has called on Tyson Fury to make their undisputed heavyweight title fight happen 👀 pic.twitter.com/tZO6dhTe4Y
Speaking in an exclusive with TNT Sports, Usyk suggested that he has been handed the wrong opponent but that “this is part of the way and if I have this Englishman in my way now then I have to face him”.
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In an admittedly rare moment of pleasantry in what has been a typically trash-talk-filled build-up, the WBA, WBO and IBF holder said of Fury: “As a human being, I think he is a great person. I think he’s a great man, a great father, a great family man and as an athlete he’s brilliant as well.
Nevertheless, the nine-time title holder went on to say, “there’s too much words, instead of actions”, adding that “The whole world wants to see the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury and we have to make it. People are tired of talks. We need to do instead of talk.” He’s not wrong.
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As for Dubois, Usyk insisted that he won’t “underestimate him… I do [the same] volume of work in my training and with Daniel Dubois there is no exception… I train as hard as I can, as it’s possible, to achieve my goal in the ring”, though there is no doubt Usyk sees this as merely a stepping stone to get to Fury.
However, the 34-year-old admitted back in June that he is out of practice and could potentially face a “12-round disaster” if he were to fight him now, having been out of the ring pretty much ever since his fight against Derek Chisora back in December 2022.
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The Gypsy King has also been busy with other projects besides boxing in the interim too, with he and the rest of the Fury family revealing their new Netflix reality show late last month, which is set to air on 16 August.
As for younger brother Tommy, he has finally announced his next fight against yet another YouTube and social media personality in KSI, warning that he wants to end the recent influencer boxing trend “within 12 months”.
Featured Image — Oleksandr Usyk (via Twitter)/Tyson Fury (via Instagram)
Sport
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
The Oldham Man and The Sea: the documentary about the Latics owner’s record-breaking Atlantic voyage
Danny Jones
It doesn’t matter if you’re not an Athletic fan or native to the borough; we think everyone should go along to watch the much-anticipated documentary about football club owner Frank Rothwell and his record-breaking journey across the Atlantic Ocean: The Oldham Man And The Sea.
One of the simplest and most satisfying names for a film we’ve heard in a long time.
For anyone who doesn’t know about the Oldham Athletic FC chairman turned OBE’s incredible story, Frank Rothwell has set multiple records with his impressive sea-faring feats in recent times.
This new doc, which just premiered at this year’s Manchester Film Festival, charts his latest trip across one of the biggest bodies of water on the planet in March 2024.
As you can see from the recent trailer, it’s almost as arduous a tale as the original Hemingway story.
This movie – produced by Journeyman Pictures and Chief Productions – made its full debut at the Odeon in Great Northern Warehouse for MFF 2026, and is set to have a number of other screenings in and around Greater Manchester in the coming weeks and months.
One of those is happening rather soon, in fact, over at Saddleworth’s Millgate Arts Centre on Saturday, 28 March, which is ideal for those local to the region; grab your tickets now.
ln fact, there’s also one happening even closer to his hometown the following month, with Oldham’s very own Queen Elizabeth Hall also hosting a special screening of Rothwell’s incredible achievement.
You can reserve your seats for that one right HERE.
Having not only become the eldest (70) Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge finisher back in 2021, but now holding the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to ever complete the crossing while rowing solo at 73 years old, he’s become nothing short of a local hero – and that’s just his stewardship of the Latics…
The film does, obviously, touch on his time at the helm of the League Two side, who finally returned to the EFL last June, but the heart and soul of this inspiring watch is the sail itself.
More importantly, it also documents not just the gruelling nature of the 64-day, seven-hour and 53-minute trek, but also how Frank has now helped raise more than £1.4 million on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
What an absolute icon.
Hopefully, this should be just about all the reason you need to watch The Oldham Man And The Sea the very next opportunity you get to do so – and, of course, all proceeds from ticket sales will also be going to charity, because just the kind of bloke he is.
And here’s hoping we get a streaming version sometime soon.
Danny Jones -
2nd August 2023 
