Tyson Fury at centre of huge row as Oleksandr Usyk’s team furious his BEARD ‘grossly violates’ strict rules

TYSON FURY is at the centre of a huge world-title rematch row — over his BEARD!

Champion Oleksandr Usyk has accused Fury of “grossly violating” strict rules on the length of facial hair and demanded he gets his razor out.

The storm erupted after Fury won his battle to ban the Ukrainian from having a “lucky” crucifix in his corner for Saturday night’s £180million heavyweight Saudi showdown.

Britain’s Gypsy King, who weighed in at a massive 20st 1lb — FOUR STONE heavier than his rival — is sporting a full, bushy beard after refusing to shave for 12 weeks.

But Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, fumed: “The beard rule is being grossly violated.

“The WBC rules clearly say, ‘A boxer may espouse a trimmed beard as long as the hair thickness does not cushion or affect the impact or trajectory of punches, or cause cuts or abrasions to his rival’.

“So, Tyson’s beard has to be trimmed. We will push it further.”

Fury’s matchmaker, Frank Warren, refused to back down.

The Queensberry Promotions chief blasted: “He has a beard and there have been a lot of fighters over the years who have fought with beards, and that’s it.”

When SunSport quizzed the British Boxing Board of Control, which has trained and supports the Middle East chiefs in charge of the WBC, WBA and WBO clash, they said Fury MUST trim his beard if Usyk complained at yesterday’s rules meeting.

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Yet WBC supremo Mauricio Sulaiman insisted: “The matter was discussed and the final decision is with the local commission.

“We do not feel Fury gets any advantage. We do not think there will be a problem.”

Fury, 36, won an earlier squabble when undefeated Usyk, 37, was told he could not have his cherished monk’s crucifix in his corner.

He kissed it for inspiration during his split-decision triumph in May’s first Riyadh tear-up.

But Warren insisted: “If there’s anything other than water that goes to the fighter’s lips then the inspector will take it away.

“If anything is seen to be not correct it will be dealt with.”

SunSport understands Usyk’s team have accepted the banning of the cross but are digging in their heels over Beardgate.

Fury weighed in at a career-heaviest — a stonking 19lbs bigger than the first fight, while Usyk tipped the scales at 16st 2lbs, just three pounds up on last time.

There was another argument around the judges after Miami’s Fernando Barbosa withdrew ill.

The warring parties were at loggerheads over whether American Steve Weisfeld or Panama’s Ignacio Robles — who jetted in as emergency cover — would sit alongside Patrick Morley (US) and Puerto Rican Gerardo Martinez.

Warren, who wanted Robles, said: “I’ve suggested we toss a coin.”

He added: “There’s going to be a war tomorrow.”

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk