18 February 2024 , 09:00
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Oleksandr Usyk's coach doubts Tyson Fury suffered such a bad cut in sparring - branding the injury "impossible".
Fury and Usyk were due to clash this weekend to crown the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. But the Brit pulled out two weeks ago after suffering a bad cut above his eye, forcing the fight to be rescheduled for May 18.
And Sergey Lapin, one of Usyk's trainers, is not convinced Fury's injury is legitimate. "There were rumours Fury's preparations were not going to plan and then promoter Alex Krassyuk called me to say Fury’s cut, the circumstances are more than suspicious," he told Fruity Slots. "In this modern era, with all the advanced and protective head guards available to top level fighters, as well as the big gloves used in sparring, it seems impossible to me that he sustained such an injury in sparring.
"It's my instinct that something suspicious happened, maybe because Fury wasn't ready to fight. Maybe he was dropped heavily in sparring and they needed to buy themselves more time. But are we really surprised that Tyson Fury continues to run from Usyk? Are we really surprised that Fury has found another way to avoid the fight? This is nothing new."
Fury had already been forced to push back the undisputed fight after struggling to defeat Francis Ngannou last October. Fury was dropped in the third round before scraping to a points win after 10 rounds.
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And Lapin added: "Also, for a second let's say he did get cut - through a head guard and with large training gloves - can you imagine what will happen to his head when he receives a bomb from the Usyk in a ten-ounce glove? If Fury finally dares to enter the ring on May 18, then it will be a terrible dream for him, he has never boxed with a boxer of this level in his life.
"Ngannou exposed Fury for what he is, a fighter with too many miles on clock, a fighter who has had too many wars, and a fighter who is now in rapid decline to the point he's been badly troubled by sparring partners."