Tyson Fury sends one-word warning as bizarre Oleksandr Usyk row rumbles on
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Oleksandr Usyk was still trying to get Tyson Fury to shave his beard on Friday night as the bizarre row rumbled on ahead of the £180m superfight. The pair will face off in their highly-anticipated heavyweight rematch at the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night. But the team of defending champion Usyk, 37, are still arguing that the British star must trim his facial hair before they step in the ring.
The Ukrainian's promoter Alex Krassyuk insists he will not back down on the dispute as they petitioned the Middle East Boxing Commission - who operate under British Boxing Board of Control rules. Krassyuk is citing WBC rules which state that beards cannot act as a cushion for shots or interfere with the trajectory of punches.
He said: “We all have to comply with the rules. If Fury has a broken jaw, how will the doctor see? Usyk doesn’t care but the team do and we will keep pushing this.”. Usyk’s team have relented on the judge row with New Jersey’s Steve Weisfeld and Ignacio Robles from Panama in the running to replace the ill Fernando Barbosa from Miami.
Chicago’s Patrick Morley and Puerto Rico’s Gerardo Martinez are the other officials with Roberto Ramirez the referee. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year.
