- Fury Sr., Tyson’s father, headbutted a member of Oleksandr Usyk’s camp
- Usyk admits his team was prepared to retaliate for the shocking incident.
- The Ukrainian revealed that he had given the order to his team to turn back
Olexsander Usyk has revealed that he avoided a bloody battle by ordering his team, which includes Ukrainian soldiers, not to retaliate after John Fury headbutted one of his team.
Tyson Fury’s father began the week of his son’s fight with Usyk to become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion of the four-belt era by attacking the smallest member of the opposing security team who was shouting his name. her man in the lobby of a luxury hotel.
Blood ran down Fury Senior’s face as chaos threatened, but Usyk says, “I pulled my team back to stop the fight.” They wanted to go. They were looking at me waiting for the signal. Waiting for the go-ahead, but I gave them the go-ahead.’
Maybe the best for Big John. Usyk acknowledged that the shocking incident was a bad look for an often-criticized sport, but added: “Not only do I have professional trainers with me. I also have professional soldiers. They are very good at wanting to fight. Not boxing. Street fighting. Shooting. Knives.
‘It’s a secret who the soldiers on my team are. They were not happy when I raised my hand and gestured for them to respond, please, no. We are professionals.’
Olexsander Usyk revealed that he ordered his team not to retaliate after John Fury’s headbutt
John Fury (pictured) was left bloodied after headbutting a member of the Ukrainian side.
Usyk intervened for the good of boxing and the countries involved, explaining: ‘This is a great event for our people. For the United Kingdom, for Ukraine. For Saudi Arabia. And this was bad behavior on the part of Tyson’s team. It was stupid. I don’t want to call John bad because I don’t know him or his mind. But we had to behave correctly.’
Fury’s father, who served three years in prison in his country for gouging out another man’s eye, gave further insight into his traveling mentality when he said: “I always defend my son.” We are warriors. It’s what we do.’
What Usyk aims to do is beat Tyson Fury here on Saturday night. Empowered above all by the renewed Russian attack on eastern Ukraine. He says: ‘I really appreciate all the support from the Ukrainian soldiers. It’s a great motivation. Maybe I will also motivate my people. Maybe.’
Also on the cards is adding Fury’s WBC crown to his WBA, IBF and WBO titles. To make history, yes, but also to bring something home to his two sons and two daughters. “The four belts,” he says, “will be one for each of my children.”
Usyk senses the irony for the Furies when he concludes, “John’s behavior is another reason I will win.”