Tyson Fury was forced to pull out of his fight with Oleksandr Usyk today after he suffered a cut above his right eye in a sparring session.
The news, which comes just two weeks out from fight night, halts the heavyweight division and sees fans waiting once more to see the first undisputed champion in over two decades.
The Brit released a statement expressing his disappointment, but Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, is not for accepting it. He told the Ring Magazine in a blistering and aggressive rant that Fury was a coward who forced a cut.
“Tyson Fury is a f***ing coward who will do anything not to face Usyk, and he asked his bitch to hit him with a frying pan in his brow. You can quote me word for word for that. When the news was brought to Oleksandr, he just smiled. That is all he did. He is too mentally strong to break. I was waiting for this moment.”
Talks to reschedule the fight may now be fraught with tension.
Usyk’s side are reportedly considering offering the February 17 slot to the IBF’s number one contender Filip Hrgovic. The sanctioning body has been clear that he must fight this mandatory challenge soon, but previously allowed a delay to facilitate the undisputed fight.
News on Fury’s recovery and when he’ll be allowed to begin sparring once again is expected soon.