Featured Image Credit: iFL TV / Queensberry Promotions
Topics: Tyson Fury, Boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, Saudi Arabia
Ryan Smart
Topics: Tyson Fury, Boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, Saudi Arabia
Tyson Fury's sparring partner has revealed the insult that he was called before inflicting a 'freak cut' on the heavyweight champion prior to his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury vs Usyk, which was due to take place on February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was postponed after the cut, which left 'The Gypsy King' unable to compete.
According to reports, Usyk's team have been 'exploring' the possibility of the Ukrainian taking on IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic on that date instead.
Advert
But his unification title bout against Fury will now take place on May 18 instead, giving the Brit over three months to recover from the cut above his right eye.
Footage later emerged which showed the alleged moment that Fury was cut, although his team has yet to confirm whether the footage represents the actual moment the incident occurred.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Fury's promoter Frank Warren explained: "It happened this [Friday] morning in sparring with a Croatian heavyweight who caught his eye with his elbow."
Sky Sports reported that the Croatian heavyweight in question is Agron Smakici, a professional boxer with a record of 20-2.
Advert
That has now been confirmed by the man himself, who gave an interview with iFL TV to give further details on the incident.
Smakici stated that he was in Fury's camp for two weeks, and did three to four rounds on 'three to four' separate occasions before the cut.
He also added that he used a combination of body strikes and wrestling techniques - and then stated the insult that he was called moments before striking 'The Gypsy King' in sparring.
Smakici described how he was called 'a sausage' by Fury - which we've certainly heard the Englishman use on many an occasion - but added that he left the camp on good terms with Fury's team.
He said: "Every camp you have a situation, where you have pain or you get caught, or something like that. But that's normal. It's boxing - not tennis or another sport.
Advert
"He was never complaining. He was doing all of the rounds, he was doing all the training we had to do, the conditional training, and everything.
"He was really good. Sometimes he would dance in the ring or sing - he was very good."