• Tyson Fury will no longer face Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17
  • The Gypsy King is reported to have suffered a ‘severe’ cut during sparring
  • Fury is said to have required stitches and now faces a period of recovery time 

Tyson Fury’s blockbuster heavyweight unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk has been postponed after the Gypsy King suffered a nasty cut in sparring.

Fury suffered a severe cut above his right eye on Friday while sparring, which has been labelled by his promotion team as a ‘freak cut’. 

The wound required stitches, leading to the postponement of the undisputed heavyweight contest.

‘I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight so long and being in such superb condition,’ a dejected Fury said.

‘I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed. 

WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT 

This is the nasty laceration above Tyson Fury's right eye which has postponed his next fight

This is the nasty laceration above Tyson Fury’s right eye which has postponed his next fight

Fury (left) will no longer fight Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 after getting cut in sparring

Fury (left) will no longer fight Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 after getting cut in sparring

Fury has been sparring Moses Itauma (7-0) Kevin Lerena (30-2) and Alexis Barriere (11-0)

Fury has been sparring Moses Itauma (7-0) Kevin Lerena (30-2) and Alexis Barriere (11-0)

Fury had stitches for the wound and he will now be sidelined as Usyk seeks a new opponent

Fury had stitches for the wound and he will now be sidelined as Usyk seeks a new opponent

‘I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.’ 

The Telegraph report that an accidental head clash was behind the cut to Fury, causing him to need 15 stitches to patch it up. 

Usyk is still hoping to box on that February 17, with IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic named as a possible opponent but any clash with Fury is now on ice.  

Queensbury Promotions described the incident in Riyadh as ‘freak’, with the blow coming above Fury’s right eye. 

‘The cut, which opened above Fury’s right eye, required urgent medical attention and significant stitching, and will obviously require a period of recovery, scuppering any possibility of the fight with Usyk taking place on February 17 in Saudi Arabia,’ a statement said. 

A spokesperson added: ‘Whilst this is still breaking news it is clearly a massive disappointment, after the work that has been done by so many people to finally deliver this historic event to the world. 

‘Once the doctors have appraised Tyson’s eye, we will have a better idea of the period of recovery needed. 

Fury apologised in a statement and said he has been left 'absolutely devastated' by the injury

Fury apologised in a statement and said he has been left ‘absolutely devastated’ by the injury

Usyk (pictured) is still hoping to box on that February 17 date, with IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic named as a possible opponent for the Ukrainian heavyweight

Usyk (pictured) is still hoping to box on that February 17 date, with IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic named as a possible opponent for the Ukrainian heavyweight

‘Once known we will work diligently with all the stakeholders and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reschedule this fight as soon as possible and will of course keep everyone updated with developments.’ 

There may well be a sense of deja vu for Fury and his camp as it is the same right eye that required 47 stitches back in 2019 following a nasty gash inflicted by Otto Wallin.

Fury was caught by a series of Wallin’s hooks and he was left with a nasty laceration above his right eye. 

Only a matter of hours ago promoter Eddie Hearn addressed claims that Australian cruiserweight Jai Opetaia dropped Fury during their sparring session last month.

Opetaia – who was due to face Mairis Briedis for a second time on the Fury vs Usyk undercard – linked up with the Morecambe fighter during his camp in Saudi Arabia. 

The 28-year-old joined Fury in Riyadh ahead of their respective fights on February 17 but only sparred five rounds before heading back to Australia. 

British boxing legend Johnny Nelson recently came out to claim that Fury had been ‘getting turned over in the gym’ but Hearn has come forward to deny those.



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Post source: Daily mail

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