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TYSON FURY has slammed Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte after their step-aside deals collapsed 'at the 11th hour'.

Middle Eastern backers were preparing fees for Joshua to forfeit his contracted rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, who would go on to fight the Gypsy King.

Tyson Fury slammed Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte after their step-aside deals collapsed
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Tyson Fury slammed Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte after their step-aside deals collapsedCredit: Rex
Oleksandr Usyk was in talks to fight Tyson Fury
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Oleksandr Usyk was in talks to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

At the same time, Fury's WBC mandatory challenger Whyte would also have been paid to sit out.

But according to , 'an agreement in principle' between the pair was struck, until 'parties attempted to renegotiate at the 11th hour'.

In response, Fury tweeted: "It’s called greed."

ESPN's report claimed £115million was fronted for Fury, 33, to fight Usyk, 35, in Saudi Arabia for a historic, first-ever four-belt heavyweight unification.

And funds from that package would have gone to Joshua, 32, whose figure had been reported as £15m, and Whyte, 33, believed to have been in line for £5m.

The two British heavyweights were said to be on board with accepting a fee to step aside.

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And Joshua would have been contractually owed a fight against the winner of Usyk and Fury.

Nevertheless, 'the deal fell apart' following a moving of goalposts at the last minute.

It means Fury is now set to face Whyte with purse bids for the title defence due to take place on Friday evening.

Fury's promotional team of Bob Arum and Frank Warren will auction against Eddie Hearn for the right to host the grudge match.

Meanwhile, Joshua is all-but confirmed for a rematch with Usyk, having been dethroned of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in September.

Dillian Whyte and promoter Eddie Hearn
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Dillian Whyte and promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua is set to rematch Oleksandr Usyk
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Anthony Joshua is set to rematch Oleksandr Usyk
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