‘Where are you Belly?’ – Oleksandr Usyk taunts Tyson Fury ahead of potential undisputed heavyweight world title clash

As we approach a potential clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian has kicked off the trash-talking for 2023.

Usually Fury is the one pulling gags and winding up his opponents in the build-up to fights, but with ‘The Gypsy King’ taking a break from social media, Usyk has taken the chance to call him out.

Usyk took to Twitter on Tuesday to post a picture of himself in swim shorts while smiling alongside the caption: “The Middleweight is here!

“Where are you Belly? Tyson Fury.”

This is in reference to the fact that Fury has repeatedly labelled Usyk a middleweight, owing to his relatively small stature for a heavyweight.

Fury previously told the Daily Telegraph: “I don’t think [Usyk’s] big enough and strong enough to stand up to the punches, and he’s a naturally lighter man.

“When we were both younger, as amateurs, Usyk was a middleweight at the same time I was super-heavyweight and weighed 110 kilos.

“It’s a challenge, but he’ll be running away like a little b**** all night and I will hunt him down and when I get hold of him he’ll be crushed.” 

As it stands, Fury and Usyk are expected to clash no later than March 4 this year, with the location likely to be in the Middle East, although the UK has not been ruled out.

It also appears that all four belts will be on the line, making it an undisputed fight after the IBF’s latest U-turn, as they rescinded their order for Usyk to fight his mandatory challenger, Filip Hrgovic.

In terms of the latest news around fight negotiations, promoter Frank Warren recently told talkSPORT Fight Night: “We’ve sent them a draft contract, that’s where we’re at.

“Listen, it’s got to be be sorted out very, very quickly now because the time is against us.”