Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum says a mandatory fight of his client Tyson Fury with Dillian Whyte can happen – but only under the conditions that Whyte is reasonable with his financial demands.
According to Arum, Whyte and his handlers have rejected an offer of 5,5 million guarantee with a 25% revenue take. Whyte, per Arum, is demanding no less than an eight-figure sum for the contest.
The World Boxing Council has since ordered a purse bid – with an 80-20 split in Fury’s favor – based on the financial earnings of both boxers in their recent outings.
Whyte is appealing the WBC’s ruling on the split. The purse bid is scheduled to take place on January 18.
However, Arum is willing to work things out before the purse bid.
“If he wants the fight and stops messing around, he can get a good payday and prove that he is of a world-class caliber by taking on Fury. We’d like to do that fight. It’s a good fight for the UK,” Arum told Sky Sports.
“Whyte should sit down with myself and [Fury’s UK promoter] Frank Warren and work out a deal for a guarantee, and we’ll get this show on the road. Come to the table and let’s see if we can carve out a real deal.”
“Let’s quit screwing around. I don’t know Dillian but I would think he wants the fight. I don’t know his psyche. Let’s let Oleksandr Usyk fight Anthony Joshua, which is contracted, and let’s get Fury to fight Whyte.”
Fury is targeting a return date of March 26 in the UK – and backup opponents like Andy Ruiz and Robert Helenius have been mentioned.
“That is up to Tyson,” Arum said. “We have discussed other opponents. If the fight is a week later or two weeks later? It’s not the end of the world.”
