Boxing

TYSON FURY’S conditioning coach has revealed just how well the Gypsy King looked before being forced out of fighting Oleksandr Usyk.The pair of unbeaten champions were due to collide in the first ever four belt heavyweight unification on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury looked in top shape before his fight with Oleksandr Usyk was axedCredit: instagram @kristianblacklock
Fury had put months into training before it was postponedCredit: instagram @kristianblacklock
But with just over two weeks to go, Fury suffered a horrendous cut in sparring that left him with no choice but to withdraw from the bout.
A rearranged date has been set for May 18 and the WBC champion has protested his innocence following the freak injury.
And his strength and conditioning coach Kristian Blacklock released behind-the-scenes snaps to reveal that Fury was frustratingly in top shape.
Blacklock posted: “Gutted. I’ve been working with @tysonfury since 2015 and yesterday probably the worst day we have had as a team!
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“Behind the scenes and what people don’t see and don’t realise is the huge personal sacrifices we all made as a team to provide Tyson the best possible preparation
“We worked for 4 months dozens of training sessions, massages, meals cooked! Team members driving hundreds of miles to perform there individual tasks with Tyson everyday
“Giving up Christmas occasions with family then travelling to Saudi for 2 months missing out on New year celebrations with family and loved ones, not seeing your children for weeks all to give our maximum efforts to producing Tyson Fury in the best shape of his life.
“We are obviously all down and dejected with the cut, a freak sparring accident, which some people are actually questioning.But we will regroup and go again as determined as ever.”
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Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, both confirmed they had agreed to the rearranged fight date which is only three months away.
And Fury went on Instagram Live moments after the announcement to talk down retirement and sent a warning Usyk’s way.
He said: “We keep moving forward and now we have a new date. Usyk’s crying his eyes out. ‘Tyson should retire, Tyson wants to retire.’
“No retirement here, motherf****r. You’re getting knocked out. Knocked spark out!
“May 18, the new date. Live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season.”
Fury revealing the cut that postponed his Usyk fightCredit: X @Queensbury More

TYSON FURY has mocked speculation he could have retired following the postponement of his clash with Oleksandr Usyk.The Gypsy King was forced to push back his historic undisputed heavyweight title fight with the Ukrainian this week after suffering a cut in sparring.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk was postponed due to a cutCredit: GETTY
Some boxing fans and pundits suggested Fury might retire after the postponementCredit: JAMIE MCPHILIMEY
Fury hit back at retirement suggestions and sent a chilling warning to Usyk on InstagramCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
The latest delay to the fight led many boxing fans and even Usyk’s team to suggest Fury might retire without ever fighting the slick southpaw.
And Fury couldn’t help but laugh at those claims after it was revealed they’ll throw down on May 18.
Taking to Instagra, he said: “We keep moving forward and now we have a new date.
“Usyk’s crying his eyes out. ‘Tyson should retire, Tyson wants to retire.’
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“No retirement here, motherf****r. You’re getting knocked out. Knocked spark out!
“May 18, the new date. Live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season.”
Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh has included a forfeit in the agreement for the May melee that will have both men on the hook for £10million if they pull out of the Riyadh rumble.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “I have delayed it for May 18, I guarantee for both of the fighters £10million if someone escapes from the fight.
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TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
“We will make the people around the world know if someone is scared.”
Should unified heavyweight king Usyk pull out of the fight, Alalshikh plans to make the long-awaited Battle of Britain between Fury and Anthony Joshua.
He said: “I guarantee there will be another big fight on the same night [if it is cancelled].
“If Usyk is scared then I will call for Joshua vs Fury and if Fury is scared I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants.
“This is the fight of the century.”
Fury was full of praise for Al-Alshikh for finalising a new date for his long-overdue clash with Usyk so quickly.
He said: “We got a new fight date. Very, very quickly – I suppose that was upsetting to a lot of people, but refreshing to a lot of good people.
Will Tyson Fury really be ready for Usyk on May 18?
TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk will now meet on May 18 after their undisputed fight was rescheduled following the Gypsy King’s horror cut in training.
It could mean Fury has just 17 DAYS to fully prepare for the mouthwatering clash.
Here, SunSport boxing expert Wally Downes Jr reveals whether the Brit will be fully prepared for the task at hand…
Fury insists he only needed 11 stitches on the gash over his right eye, promoter Frank Warren had earlier said 14, and it did look to be healing nicely when he appeared online to debate Usyk on Saturday evening.
Whichever it is, it makes this new scratch sound like a paper cut compared to the axe wound he suffered against Otto Wallin in 2019.
Doctors will try to ban Fury from any physical activity while the cut heals and then prescribe a very slow return to training and only when it is completely repaired will he be advised to spar.
However, trying to tell the 35-year-old Gypsy King what he can and cannot do might be a tall order for the little doctor charged with the task of policing the 6ft 9ins 20st maverick.
The maths suggests he might only have 17 days of sparring to prepare for the super-talented southpaw, who grabbed gold at London 2012 and became undisputed cruiserweight king.
And, while Fury is supposedly resting up and recovering from this latest set-back, Usyk will still be training his mind and body, doing practice rounds with giants and growing in confidence.
While Fury is sidelined, he will undoubtedly gain weight. He was as big as 22st just eight weeks out from his October scare against Francis Ngannou, so he still has not tamed his appetite.
And Fury fans will definitely worry that an enforced break, another stumbling block and another scar target for Usyk to aim his punches at, will all play into the 37-year-old Ukraine icon’s favour on May 18.

“Massive shoutout to Turki Alalshikh, they made the new date possible so quickly.”
He also showed off his since stitched-up war wound, saying: “In life, sometimes s***y things happen to you but you never let it get to you.
“You always keep moving forward. Look at that b*****d right there. Woah.
“Nice little elbow right in the eye. Nearly cost me the biggest fight in my career. But what can you do, s**t happens.”
Fury, 35, was in tip-top shape for the bout and was furious at suggestions he deliberately got himself injured.
He said: “This is not a blessing in disguise, but I take God’s will as it comes.
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“I was 100 per cent confident I was going to knock Usyk out. I was 100 per cent ready.
“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life?” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could find himself across the ring from Tyson Fury just TWO MONTHS after his crossover clash with Francis Ngannou.The Watford warrior will continue his career rebuild with a lucrative Saudi showdown with the former UFC heavyweight champion on March 8.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled for May 18Credit: EPA
The Gypsy King could find himself in the ring with Anthony Joshua is Usyk pulls out of the fightCredit: GETTY
AJ could finally get his hands on Fury just weeks after facing Francis NgannouCredit: GETTY
AJ and his team are hoping to see out 2024 with a world title fight, but a showdown with Brit rival Fury could fall in their lap should Oleksandr Usyk pull out of their rescheduled undisputed bout on May 18.
Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh dropped the bombshell during an appearance on The MMA Hour in which Fury’s rescheduled fight was announced. He said: “I guarantee there will be another big fight on the same night [if it is cancelled].
“If Usyk is scared then I will call for Joshua vs Fury and if Fury is scared I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants.
“This is the fight of the century.”
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Prior to the rescheduling of the first undisputed title fight in nearly 25 years, Joshua’s team revealed to SunSport that he’d be willing to move forward his clash with Ngannou to preserve the Saudi’s big-money plans.
Fury and Usyk’s historic undisputed showdown was postponed on Friday after the Brit suffered a horror cut in sparring.
But both men will be on the hook for a staggering £10million if they do a runner from the long-overdue unification fight.
Alalshikh said: “I have delayed it for May 18, I guarantee for both of the fighters £10m if someone escapes from the fight.
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TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
“We will make the people around the world know if someone is scared.”
Fury was left devastated by the re-opening of the wound he suffered in his 2019 clash with Otto Wallin, so much so he still wanted to fight on February.
Alalshikh said: “Tyson doesn’t want me to tell this secret.
“He wanted to fight on the 17th with the cut but I didn’t let him, it would be a circus, not a fight.
“We have a deadline with IBF and I don’t want a headache with them.”
Fury looked to be in tip-top shape for the biggest fight of his life, which he’s adamant he would have won in emphatic fashion.
He said of the rescheduling: “This is not a blessing in disguise, but I take God’s will as it comes.
“I was 100 per cent confident I was going to knock Usyk out. I was 100 per cent ready.
“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life?”

Will Tyson Fury really be ready for Usyk on May 18?
TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk will now meet on May 18 after their undisputed fight was rescheduled following the Gypsy King’s horror cut in training.
It could mean Fury has just 17 DAYS to fully prepare for the mouthwatering clash.
Here, SunSport boxing expert Wally Downes Jr reveals whether the Brit will be fully prepared for the task at hand…
Fury insists he only needed 11 stitches on the gash over his right eye, promoter Frank Warren had earlier said 14, and it did look to be healing nicely when he appeared online to debate Usyk on Saturday evening.
Whichever it is, it makes this new scratch sound like a paper cut compared to the axe wound he suffered against Otto Wallin in 2019.
Doctors will try to ban Fury from any physical activity while the cut heals and then prescribe a very slow return to training and only when it is completely repaired will he be advised to spar.
However, trying to tell the 35-year-old Gypsy King what he can and cannot do might be a tall order for the little doctor charged with the task of policing the 6ft 9ins 20st maverick.
The maths suggests he might only have 17 days of sparring to prepare for the super-talented southpaw, who grabbed gold at London 2012 and became undisputed cruiserweight king.
And, while Fury is supposedly resting up and recovering from this latest set-back, Usyk will still be training his mind and body, doing practice rounds with giants and growing in confidence.
While Fury is sidelined, he will undoubtedly gain weight. He was as big as 22st just eight weeks out from his October scare against Francis Ngannou, so he still has not tamed his appetite.
And Fury fans will definitely worry that an enforced break, another stumbling block and another scar target for Usyk to aim his punches at, will all play into the 37-year-old Ukraine icon’s favour on May 18. More

JOSHUA BUATSI won the light-heavyweight battle of South London over best pal Dan Azeez to claim the British title.The pair had to put aside a long-term respect to put on a brilliant display of British boxing at its dignified and destructive best.
Best pals Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez starred in an epic battle at Wembley’s OVO ArenaCredit: PA
Buatsi scored a famous win on points against his mateCredit: PA

In the end it was two 11th round knockdowns that earned 30-year-old Croydon boy JB the win over his 34-year-old Catford pal as the judges rightly scored it: 116-110, 117-109 and 117-109.
The opener was tight, difficult to split, but Buatsi holding the centre of the ring probably impressed the judges. Azeez’s best early blow came in the second when he clipped his pal with a right hook.
Buatsi let slip a nervous grin out of frustration at letting his defence slip and gifting his old sparring partner an opening.
The fight really caught fire at the end of round three. After Buatsi had success with a couple of body attacks, Azeez landed two right hands to the head.
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It felt like a tight round but then something switched and they traded with real spite and until the bell halted the action.
When Buatsi enjoyed fourth-round success with more body attacks, Azeez dared to green across the ring.
But his confidence was punished by two slashing left hooks that spanked his right cheek and wiped the smile away.
Round five was a cracker, there was elite technical boxing early on, precise punches and gameplans. Then there was a shootout as two brave men put tactics aside to slug it out for the Wembley arena crowd.
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But Buatsi was definitely tagged back and the judges should have found it tough to split them.
Azeez ignored all of trainer Buddy McGirt’s orders to target Buatsi’s body and it paid off in the sixth when a right hand to the head was the best punch of the stanza.
Azeez was hurt at the end of round eight when a right hook seemed to stun him, he crouched down so low it looked from ringside that he was taking a count but he bounced back up and kept on fighting.
There was a bizarre moment before round nine when a white towel was thrown in from the Azeez corner but it was sent in for the ref to mop up a wet patch in the ring, not for Azeez to surrender.
Buatsi knocks down Azeez during the British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title fightCredit: Getty
Punches are exchanged between Buatsi and AzeezCredit: Getty
Buatsi celebrates victory with the belt following the British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title fightCredit: Getty
Buatsi and Azeez are still best pals after their bruising encounterCredit: PA
Ten was another magnificent advert for British boxing as both brave men boxed well and banged hard.
Azeez hit the deck in round eleven when a right hand seemed to rob him of his senses, he bounced up and brushed it off to return to war.
But just before the bell he was whacked back down to the canvas for a 10-7 round and left desperately needing a last-gasp knockout.
But it was a dominant finish from Buatsi who almost got the late stoppage, the bell came at just the right time to save Azeez from his own bravery and the genuine hug they shared after was pugilism perfection.
The win means Buatsi is now the WBA mandatory challenger – with fellow undefeated Dmitry Bivol holding that title. More

CONOR Benn laboured to a scrappy points win against unknown Peter Dobson.But The Destroyer, 27, had to survive an onslaught from his opponent in the 12th round.
Conor Benn defeated Peter Dobson in Las VegasCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
Benn’s victory came after 12 roundsCredit: AP
The British fighter has been unable to fight on home soil after he was banned for failing two drug tests, which scuppered his bout with Chris Eubank Jr.
However, he has been allowed to continue with his career in the States – disposing of Rodolfo Orozco on points back in September.
And tonight he defeated 33-year-old Dobson in Las Vegas, who was 16-0 before this contest.
Judges scored the fight 119-109, 118-110 & 118-110 in his favour, as Benn won by unanimous decision.
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