It is difficult for the Croatian to reconstruct the full chronology of the ill-fated sparring with Tyson
Sparring partner of the WBC champion belt holder Tyson Fury Agron Smakichithe unwitting culprit in postponing the British fight for the title of absolute heavyweight champion with the world champion according to WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO Alexander Usikagain spoke about the incident that led to the dissection of the “Gypsy King”.
“I’m 100 percent sure I didn’t throw an elbow. After I hit him, Tyson walked away and shouted, “Hey, that was an elbow,” or something like that. There is a difference between an elbow strike and a gloved fist. When you miss an elbow strike, it’s like a hammer.”
“Perhaps he passed by, because at that moment Tyson was pulling my head forward. I may have caught him with my elbow, but it definitely wasn’t on purpose.”
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
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