Boxing-Fury pledges to 'annihilate' Whyte as showdown comes into focus

FILE PHOTO: Boxing - Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder - WBC Heavyweight Title - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. - October 9, 2021 Tyson Fury during a press conference after winning the fight against Deontay Wilder REUTERS/Steve Marcus

(Reuters) - WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury's proposed showdown with Dillian Whyte appears to be moving closer after he pledged on Thursday to "annihilate" the mandatory challenger.

A deal that would have seen Fury instead face Ukraine's WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title in June fell apart at the last minute, ESPN reported, setting up the all-British clash.