Featured Image Credit: The MMA Hour With Ariel Helwani & Getty
Topics: Heavyweight Boxing, Boxing, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Heavyweight Boxing, Boxing, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury has threatened to knock Oleksandr Usyk's manager's teeth out in a row over his wife Paris Fury.
Fury clashed with Egis Klimas during a heated episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani on Saturday night, following the postponement of his undisputed heavyweight world title fight with Usyk.
WBC champion Fury was due to face WBA, IBF and WBO belt holder Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17 - in an event dubbed 'Ring of Fire'.
However, the bout was called off on Friday after Fury sustained a cut above his right eye during a sparring session.
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Speaking after the fight was officially called off, Klimas said: "Tyson Fury is a f*****g coward who will do anything not to face Usyk, and he asked his b***h to hit him with a frying pan in his brow.
"You can quote me word for word for that. When the news was brought to Oleksandr, he just smiled. That is all he did. He is too mentally strong to break. I was waiting for this moment."
Fury took exception to those comments and threatened Klimas during a video call on Helwani's show.
"Never call me a coward again. I've had 35 professional fights and been boxing 18 years of my life," said Fury.
"I've climbed off the canvas 10 times against some of the biggest punchers in history to win. Never a coward. Never backed down from any man in my life.
"And if any man calls my wife a bitch, I'll take his f***ing teeth out."
Klimas responded by saying: "I didn't call your wife a b***h. I don't do that s***."
To which Fury responded: "Well I'll apologise for that because I thought you said that about my wife. But I'm no f***ing coward.
"How can you call me a coward? You've never boxed in your life. I've had 35 professional fights, I'm a two-time undefeated heavyweight champion, I'm the second longest lineal champion in history.
"How am I a coward?"
Earlier in the show, Saudi Arabian royal adviser Turki Alalshikh confirmed that the fight between Usyk and Fury would now take place on May 18 – with a £10m penalty fee put in place for either fighter, should they drop out.
"We can deliver the fight and I choose the date – it is May 18. We have delayed it until May 18," he said.
"I guarantee both of the fighters £10m if someone escapes from the fight. This is the first thing, and the second thing – I guarantee a big fight on the same night for another one," he added.
"Make the people around the world know if someone is scared and wants to escape from this fight.
"May 18 – we will have Tyson vs Usyk."