As reported by Sky Sports, Oleksandr Usyk and his teams have asked Tyson Fury to cut his beard ahead of the heavyweight rematch this Saturday. The authorities have so far ruled in favor of the Briton.
This is a detail that could have great importance in the ring. This Saturday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will meet for a rematch, seven months after the Ukrainian's victory last May. But before this clash between heavyweights, where Usyk puts his three belts back on the line, a dispute arose around the Briton's beard.
Usyk camp fears beard will cushion blows
As reported by Sky Sports, Usyk's clan asked the judges for Tyson Fury's beard to be cut. The officials have so far agreed with the Briton. “There are regulations and the boxing commission inspected Fury: there is no problem,” said Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, one of the three federations which will award a belt this Saturday.
Usyk's camp, however, does not have the same interpretation, believing that Tyson Fury's beard can advantage him in such a way that his facial hair cushions “the impact or trajectory of blows” or can “cause cuts or abrasions to his rival”.
Quite a difference in weight
For promoter Frank Warren, this question is more about pre-fight “psychological warfare”. The two camps also disagreed in recent hours over the choice to replace Fernando Barbosa, the judge initially planned but ultimately ill.
Thanks to his victory against Fury last May, Usyk had reunited the four main heavyweight belts, a first since 1999. This Saturday, the IBF belt will however no longer be at stake since the federation has forfeited the Ukrainian , then organizing a fight in September won by Daniel Dubois against Anthony Joshua.
Still undefeated in 22 professional fights, the mustachioed Usyk will not have the weight advantage on Saturday since he was weighed – while dressed as Fury – at 102.5kg against 127.46kg for his opponent.
