The Briton said he is in excellent shape
WBC champion belt holder Tyson Fury stated that he was ready to defeat Ukrainian champion Alexander Usik in seven rounds in a fight for the title of absolute world champion in heavyweight.
“I’m in great shape. There are real professionals in my team, I am trained by the best specialists. My ideal training camp is 7-8 weeks. I’m ready to start camp next week.”
“I don’t know whether Oleksandr Usyk will be my most difficult opponent in my career. I haven’t fought him, but I think I’ll stop him within 7 rounds.”
“Joshua vs Ngannou is a great fight. Before the fight with me, no one took Francis seriously. He proved everyone they were wrong. I made him a star, a multimillionaire. Ngannou should get down on his knees and kiss my feet for what I did for him.”
Fury and Usyk were scheduled to fight for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion on February 17. Lennox Lewis was appointed special guest of the event, and the undercard included fights between former IBF world champion in the first heavyweight class Jay Opetai, Moses Itauma and IBF world champion in the super featherweight division Joe Cordina.
According to the official version, two weeks before the fight with Usik for the title of absolute heavyweight champion, Fury was injured during a sparring with the Croatian boxer Smakichi. The “Gypsy King” himself commented on the situation: “In the fifth round, I received an elbow to the eye, a cut on the eye. Apparently I ended up in the hospital and had 11 stitches. They have medical reports, they have everything…”
Smakichi, in turn, emphasizes the unintentionality of inflicting injury on the Briton: “I felt that I was throwing a punch, but he pulled my head forward, and perhaps I hit him with my elbow. I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Opinions among functionaries about Tyson’s injury were divided. British cutman Jorge Capetillo believes that the boxer will need at least three months to recover. His position is shared by the brother of former “interim” WBC champion Dillian Whyte, Dean White.
Egis Klimas and Alexander Krasyuk expressed dissatisfaction with Fury and his team for the injury received by the Briton on the eve of the fight for the absolute title in heavyweight. The head of the promotion company Top Rank, Bob Arum, and John Fury spoke in defense of the Gypsy King.
The unification fight for the title of absolute world heavyweight champion has received a new date – Fury and Usyk are scheduled to meet in the ring on May 18. The event, as before, will be hosted by the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. The WBC proposes to reform the judges for the reporting fight, increasing their number to 5-6 people.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman announced that an agreement had been reached between the boxers for a re-fight. The WBO is also ready to sanction the second fight. However, the fate of a possible rematch depends on the first fight. Penalties for boxers who refuse to fight are $10 million.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
