Eddie Hearn gives his take on John Fury headbutt incident and doesn't hold back

Eddie Hearn has reacted to John Fury's so-called "out of character" decision to headbutt a member of Oleksandr Usyk's team at a Saudi Arabian hotel.

Fight week got underway on Monday with a shocking incident involving the elder Fury, who was left bleeding from his forehead after clashing with a member of Usyk's entourage.

John, a former professional boxer and bare-knuckle fighter, later explained what happened.

"It's a fight game, emotions are running high," he told IFL TV. "I was sat there minding my own business, and I could hear 'Usyk, Usyk, Usyk'. I'm going to stand up for my son. He's the best in the world, and I want people to respect him and give him the credit he deserves as the champion. He's the best in the world."

Fury added: "When people start saying this and saying that... when I was in amongst them, all I could hear was madness.

"Some little idiot came forward, don't know who it was, he was in my space. He got what he got, and that's the end of it. It happens every day of the week for me, that."

Since the incident took place, a number of high-profile names in the boxing world have had their say, including promoter Eddie Hearn, who was asked if he "expected" it to happen.

"I've called his bluff over the years because he's never actually done anything. But to answer your question, I didn't expect it to happen. It was out of character because he's never done it before," he told iFL TV.

"I'm glad it wasn't me because I would have stood in front of him expecting him to do nothing!"

Hearn added: "I've said before in interviews that John Fury is good for boxing in the respect of the build-ups but this isn't. He shouldn't have done it. I know he's apologised but it's a heat of the moment thing.

"It's difficult for some people to understand the game and the pressure and what it means to people, especially if it's your son. I've overreacted sometimes, even recently after the Devin Haney fight.

"He shouldn't have done it in my opinion but I also understand emotions are high.

"People might not agree when I say it's out of character but normally it's 'I'm this I'm that blah blah blah' and it's quite amusing and goes away. This time it was physical. I was quite surprised."

As mentioned by Hearn, Fury apologised for his actions after the incident.

"Sincere apologies to everybody involved. It's just the way we are," he said. "Emotions and tensions are running high. He was a very disrespectful fella. If you come close in a fighting man's space, you're gonna cop for something."

Fury added: "What matters to me is respect for my son and he wasn't showing any of it. He mentioned my son and that was it, so he had to have it. It doesn't bother me [bleeding], it's what we live for, we're fighting people."

Never one to hold back when giving his opinion, Fury also called out Tony Bellew this week after the former WBC cruiserweight champion predicted a win for Usyk.

"You see Tony Bellew? He will get a headbutt like [Stepchuk] just got if he comes around me," he told reporters.

Tony Bellew has since responded by calling Fury's actions at the Saudi hotel "embarrassing" and "disturbing".

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "No one is going to headbutt me, full stop. I've made my predictions. That's what I'm paid to do. I don't fear no man and no man is going to put it on me.

"Understand this, for every action, there is a reaction. It was very bizarre watching that yesterday because there's one guy going head-to-head with him that is the same size, and he didn't feel like headbutting him. But he felt the need to headbutt the child in the group, which I found quite disturbing to be honest.

"It's embarrassing," he added. "If my father behaved like that at a press conference, I would pull him aside and tell him it can't be happening. It's a really bad look for boxing."