Fury, Usyk separated during face-off in London
BBC – Tyson Fury launched a tirade of abuse towards Oleksandr Usyk and pushed his head into the Ukrainian at their face-off before the two were separated by security in London.
Briton Fury, 35, takes on Ukraine’s Usyk in Riyadh on 17 February – the winner will be crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Usyk, 36, is the WBA, WBO and IBF champion with Fury holding the WBC belt.
“You are all dossers. He’s going to get knocked out. And you two are going to work for me slinging my bags,” Fury told Usyk and his promoter, Alexander Krassyuk and manager, Egis Klimas.
A composed Usyk remained undeterred and reluctant to engage in a war of words.
“Enough? My friend. Have you stopped? Enough? Have you stopped talking?,” he asked.
Fury boasts an undefeated record of 34 wins and one draw but is coming off October’s unexpectedly close fight against Francis Ngannou.
French-Cameroonian Ngannou, a former UFC champion, was making his boxing debut. Fury edged a split-decision points victory in the non-title bout, although many ringside observers felt Ngannou should have been awarded a shock victory
But any suggestion the below-par Ngannou performance would humble the champion were quashed when a dancing Fury strutted to the stage on Thursday evening with a swagger.
It took Fury mere minutes to lay into Usyk, interrupting Krassyuk’s opening statement.
“You’re getting smashed to pieces. Sausage. You’re fighting the best British heavyweight there’s ever been,” he shouted, adding a number of expletives.
Ever unpredictable, Fury then began to compliment the undefeated Usyk’s boxing skills and achievements, but the praise was short lived.
Usyk – who has won all 21 pro bouts – defended his titles against Londoner Daniel Dubois in August. He was dropped in the fight by a punch which the referee declared a low blow.
“I think he got hit in the body and he didn’t want to get up for five minutes,” Fury said. “Crying to the referee. That’s what he did.”
Usyk replied: “I absolutely don’t care what Tyson thinks of that.”
Fury looked to provoke his opponent by forcefully driving his head into Usyk, who held his ground before security intervened.