If Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk expect to maximize the earnings from their undisputed heavyweight rematch, they will likely have to fight somewhere in the sandy climes of the Oil Kingdom.

Manchester’s Fury, who holds the WBC belt, and Ukraine’s Usyk, who owns the WBA, WBO, and IBF ones, are headed toward a showdown for all four heavyweight belts next spring.

According to Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions, the representatives of both fighters are currently in discussion with three countries in the Middle East about staging the fight. In the event, a deal cannot be reached with any of those countries, Krassyuk said they will fall back on the United Kingdom, Fury’s home turf, organizing the fight possibly at either Wembley Arena in London or Principality Stadium in Cardiff, two of the biggest stadiums in the country. Fury is promoted by Top Rank in the US and Queensberry in the UK.

“We have a basic option to make it happen at Wembley or Cardiff or any other place in the UK,” Krassyuk told SecondsOut.com. “But as long as we are working for our man, who is the best heavyweight in the world, we have to bring him the biggest benefit. So we are now working on that, working on a site. We are in negotiations with three countries in the Middle East and we still have the basic option of Great Britain.

“So the worst scenario, it goes to Wembley or any other big stadium (in the UK). Any other scenario is that it takes place in the Middle East. The deadline (for the fight to take place) we agree, together, is the 4th of March.”

A note of caution: Krassyuk said if both sides fail to reach a deal for the fight to happen in early March, he does not envision negotiations will be revived.

“In case it doesn’t happen [on] the fourth of March, it’s not likely to happen ever,” Krassyuk said.

However, Krassyuk, despite all the contradictory bluster from Fury, is optimistic that the fight will happen.

“It’s a matter of fact that this fight has to happen,” he continued. “Tyson has already given his consent already. Queensberry, Top Rank, all are in. Usyk team, K2 Promotions, Usyk himself, we are on our way. Nothing is to spoil this fight from happening.”  

Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) is coming off a win over Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight title unification rematch which took place in August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) stopped Derek Chisora inside 10 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.