Oleksandr Usyk’s trainer has claimed Tyson Fury’s withdrawal from the pair’s undisputed title fight was ‘more than suspicious’.
Usyk and Fury were due to go head-to-head in Saudi Arabia this weekend in the first undisputed fight in the division since 1999, but Fury pulled out two weeks ago after suffering a cut above his right eye in training.
The undisputed star sustained the injury while sparring with Agron Smakici, which was labelled by his promotion team as a ‘freak cut’. The wound required stitches, leading to the postponement of the undisputed heavyweight contest.
The match has been re-scheduled for May 18, with Fury needing 90 days to recover from the injury, according to the Gypsy King’s former cutman.
But one of his opponent’s trainers, Sergey Lapin, has doubted the legitimacy of the issue, suggesting that Fury ‘continues to run’ from Usyk.
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT
Tyson Fury’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk has been postponed after he sustained a cut above his right eye in sparring
Fury (left) will no longer fight Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 after the British fighter suffered a cut in sparring
Sergey Lapin has suggested that Fury’s withdrawal from the fight was ‘suspicious’ due to the nature of the injury. Source – Instagram (serge_lapin)
‘There were rumours Fury’s preparations were not going to plan and then promoter Alex Krassyuk called me to say Fury’s cut,’ he told Fruity Slots. ‘The circumstances are more than suspicious.
‘In this modern era, with all the advanced and protective head guards available to top level fighters, as well as the big gloves used in sparring, it seems impossible to me that he sustained such an injury in sparring.
‘It’s my instinct that something suspicious happened, maybe because Fury wasn’t ready to fight. Maybe he was dropped heavily in sparring and they needed to buy themselves more time. But are we really surprised that Tyson Fury continues to run from Usyk? Are we really surprised that Fury has found another way to avoid the fight? This is nothing new.’
Doubts were raised over Fury’s chances in the bout after he edged past debutant Francis Ngannou in his last fight in October.
The world champion was dropped in the third round, with many fans believing he lost the fight overall despite a split-decision win.
The nature of the injury, Lapin claimed, points to one result this spring.
Fury struggled in his last fight, winning a narrow split decision call against Francis Ngannou
Usyk and Fury’s undisputed heavyweight title fight is now set for May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
‘Also, for a second let’s say he did get cut, through a head guard and with large training gloves, can you imagine what will happen to his head when he receives a bomb from the Usyk in a ten-ounce glove?’ he said.
‘If Fury finally dares to enter the ring on May 18, then it will be a terrible dream for him, he has never boxed with a boxer of this level in his life.
‘Ngannou exposed Fury for what he is, a fighter with too many miles on clock, a fighter who has had too many wars, and a fighter who is now in rapid decline to the point he’s been badly troubled by sparring partners.’