WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury explained how he sustained a cut over his right eye, forcing the postponement of his undisputed heavyweight title encounter with Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury was due to step through the ropes with Usyk on February 17. However, it was confirmed on February 2 that the fight, which was due to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, had been pushed back to May 18.
Both fighters featured on a special MMA hour episode, with Fury sitting alongside Turki Alalshikh and Usyk alongside his manager, Egis Klimas, at his training camp in Valencia.
Fury explained how the cut happened in sparring.
“I arranged to spar 12 rounds with four different guys [on Friday],” Fury explained. “In round five, I got an elbow in the eye, a split eye, and obviously, I’ve been to the hospital and had 11 stitches. They have the medical reports, they have everything.
“Nothing much anybody can do about getting a cut in sparring. Shit happens. I’ve never had one before, first time for everything.”
Fury took time to respond to initial comments made by manager Klimas, who told The Ring that “Tyson Fury is a fucking coward who will do anything not to face Usyk.”
Fury did not hold back from telling Klimas what he thought of him while questioning Klimas as to why he [Fury] would walk away from a career-high payday.
“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life? I put 10 weeks into a training camp. Why? Why would I not want to fight?
“You’re a rat piece of shit. You’ve never had a fight in your life, and you’re calling me a coward, you rat bastard. Egis, never call me a coward again. I’ve had 35 professional fights. I’ve been boxing for 18 years of my life.
“I’ve climbed off the canvas from the biggest punchers in history to win. I’ve never been a coward, never backed down from any man in my life. You’re all going to be finito. You’re all going to be working for me as dossers. You ugly little bastard.”
