Boxing promoter Frank Warren has come to the defence of Tyson Fury as he and his team have been criticised by frustrated fight fans over the ongoing Oleksandr Usyk saga.
The highly-anticipated bout, which would have seen a undisputed heavyweight champion crowned for the first time since 1999, was called off just over a month out from its scheduled date at the end of this month (29 April) following a dispute over some of the particulars in the contract.
Moreover, after a controversial clip of Fury explaining that he’ll “never fight” Usyk resurfaced online, along with various other ‘offensive’ and ‘unpalatable’ comments throughout negotiations, the Ukrainian’s camp has stated that the Furys have “disrespected the fans” and it looks like many of them agree.
Fatigued with the typical and tiresome back and forth the sport seems to be continually throwing up, many fans are now calling out Fury for ‘wasting their time’ and effectively exploding the fight from within. However, his promoter Frank Warren believes their criticism is misplaced.
Frank Warren on Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: “Do you know what's killed this? Social media. All the p***ing around on social media. If it'd been left to people to do it in a grown-up way, there wouldn't have been a problem.” [@talkSPORT talkBOXING]
Speaking to Simon Jordan on talkSPORT‘s boxing show, Warren clarified that despite mixed information from both sides, it was Fury’s camp that requested a rematch clause be inserted into the agreement to not only give Usyk multiple chances, but to increase the payday on both sides.
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He also detailed how Usyk and co. stipulated that they wanted a 70/30 split of the purse from the rematch as well, i.e. the reverse of the original deal for the first fight — one of several reasons why discussions apparently broke down.
Moreover, the head of Queensberry Promotions said that another aspect that has complicated the fight is social media, insisting that “if it’d been left to people to do it in a grown-up way, there wouldn’t have been a problem”.
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Admitting that even Tyson hasn’t helped in that respect, especially when it came to putting out seemingly arbitrary deadlines regarding the Antony Joshua fight as well — one which also collapsed in a similarly drawn out fashion — he argued that both boxers have ended up drumming up a stance and sticking with it.
Warren went on to say that despite a “few Tyson Fury haters” popping up of late, the Gypsy King “has never ducked anybody” and has fought plenty of his own ‘underdog’ fights in his time, including his bout against Wladimir Klitschko when he earned just £1 million as the mandatory challenger.
The 71-year-old insisted that people shouldn’t “criticise Tyson Fury [because] he’s had three fights in the [United] States against [Deontay] Wilder, great fights. One was probably the best round of the last ten years – that last round of the first fight.
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“The second fight was a phenomenal performance, and the third fight was the best heavyweight fight I’ve seen live in my time in boxing”, he said, adding that it was Usyk that pulled out and had flown out to Turkey despite claiming to be in Kyiv.
It’s unlikely we’ll ever get the full truth from either side but, regardless, Warren reiterated that Usyk will now have to fight a mandatory bout against Daniel Dubois before he can get the opportunity to challenge Fury again. You can watch his interview with talkSPORT in full down below:
Featured Image — Tyson Fury (via Instagram)/Wikimedia Commons/Oleksandr Usyk
Sport
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
4th April 2023 
