Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk launch into X-rated war of words live on air
Tyson Fury has hit back at rival Oleksandr Usyk's camp, calling the Ukrainian's manager Egis Klimas a "rat b******" for implying the British fighter was running away from their bout.
Fury and Usyk were poised to face off in Saudi Arabia on February 17, only for the former to suffer a cut in training. A new date of May 18 has been set, with the fight still taking place in Riyadh.
There had been suggestions Filip Hrgovic might be drafted in as a late replacement, but these plans have been shelved. Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, speaking on the same broadcast, has revealed he has made a fresh offer of an undercard spot on the Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou card on March 8 with his choice of opponent - one of Daniel Dubois, Martin Bakole, Frank Sanchez, Jarrell Miller, Agit Kabayel and Jared Anderson.
Fury and Usyk appeared on a special edition of The MMA Hour, with both telling presenter Ariel Helwani they had agreed to the new date. However, before making the admission, the pair engaged in a war of words live on air.
"My reaction was just to smile, I am training after my sparring my team told me that Tyson fury was cut," Usyk said about the moment he learned Fury would be pulling out. "After that, I just smiled and went back to training."
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Fury then directed his anger towards Klimas. "Why would I not want to fight if I've had, I've put 10 weeks into my last for the biggest training camp?" he asked. "You're a rat piece of s*** never had a fight in your life, calling me a coward you rat b*****."
Directly addressing Helwani, Alalshikh was then asked about the plans for February 17. He confirmed there would be no event on that date following the new agreement with Fury and Usyk, with Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou now the focus for those in Saudi Arabia.
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Tyson Fury speaking about the injury which forced the postponement of the Usyk fight (YouTube)"We’ve delayed this fight until May 18, I’ve guaranteed both fighters 10 million if someone has escaped the fight," Alalshikh said. "I also guarantee another big fight on the same night.
"I will make fans around the world know if someone is scared for this fight. If Usyk is scared I will call for Joshua-Tyson, if Tyson is scared I will call for another fighter that Usyk wants."
Speaking after the postponement, Fury had earlier said: “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such superb condition. I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and | will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.
“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,” he added.
The former world heavyweight champion echoed that reaction on Helwani's show. "I was very disappointed, I've been in Saudi Arabia five weeks training and everything was going fantastic," he said.
"It’s a cut that you can’t help and these things happen in camp sometimes. I know His Excellency has spent a lot of money on promotion, there’s nothing that anybody can do, It’s god's will."
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