Oleksandr Usyk’s team have raised what they think to be a huge concern ahead of their man taking on Brit Tyson Fury for the undisputed title this weekend.
With just two days remaining until the bout in Riyadh, Team Usyk has lodged an official complaint that could throw a spanner in the works of the biggest fight this century.
In something of an ironic twist, Usyk’s team has raised concerns about the ring canvas ahead of Saturday’s undisputed heavyweight title fight.
This echoes the stunt that Fury pulled himself many years ago on the day of his huge world title clash with Wladimir Klitschko which saw him threaten to walk away from the fight and fly home if it the canvas were not changed.
He got his way and some padding was removed, which he claimed had been put there to slow down his footwork – a problem Usyk would also like to avoid, although that is not the specific concern his team has raised.
According to Sky Sports News, a team member expressed dissatisfaction during the open workout, specifically regarding the seam that joins the canvas sections.
The same type of canvas will be used on fight night, and Team Usyk is worried it might pose a tripping hazard during the match.
The canvas is said to be identical to the ones used in recent heavyweight fights in Saudi Arabia and the UK, including Usyk’s victories over Anthony Joshua in London and Jeddah.
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom gave the update.
“I’ve been told Team Usyk have complained, they’re not happy with the canvas on the ring and specifically the joins in the canvas.
“The way boxing rings for these big fights are manufactured is the ring is erected and then the canvas you see with all the sponsor logos on the floor is in six-foot panels and they are sewn together with a seam that is about a millimetre deep.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, heavyweight contender Frazier Clarke also gave his view.
“I’m really intrigued, I was in that ring last night before anybody got in there and didn’t notice anything. Of course like every boxer, I was in the ring and did a bit of shadow boxing and didn’t notice anything.
“I‘m really intrigued as to what it is all about. Could it be mind games? Possibly, but I doubt it. We’re in neutral territory here, there’s no advantage for Tyson or for Usyk.”
This issue will need to be sorted ahead of the showdown which will crown the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, and first of any kind since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
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