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Tyson Fury’s blockbuster heavyweight unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk has been postponed after the Gypsy King suffered a cut in sparring.
Fury suffered a severe cut above his right eye on Friday while sparring, which has been labelled. by his promotion team as a ‘freak cut’.
The wound required stitches, leading to the postponement of the undisputed heavyweight contest.
‘I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.
Tyson Fury (left) will no longer fight Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 after getting cut in sparring
Fury has been sparring Moses Itauma (7-0) Kevin Lerena (30-2) and Alexis Barriere (11-0)
Fury had stitches for the wound and he will now be sidelined as Usyk seeks a new opponent
‘I can only apologise to everyone affected including my own team, Team Usyk, the undercard fighters, partners, and fans as well as our hosts and my friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.’
The Telegraph report that an accidental head clash was behind the cut to Fury, causing him to need 15 stitches to patch it up.
Usyk is still hoping to box on that February 17, with IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic named as a possible opponent but any clash with Fury is now on ice.
Queensbury Promotions described the incident in Riyadh as ‘freak’, with the blow coming above Fury’s right eye.
‘The cut, which opened above Fury’s right eye, required urgent medical attention and significant stitching, and will obviously require a period of recovery, scuppering any possibility of the fight with Usyk taking place on February 17 in Saudi Arabia,’ a statement said.
Only a matter of hours ago promoter Eddie Hearn addressed claims that Australian cruiserweight Jai Opetaia dropped Fury during their sparring session last month.
Opetaia – who was due to face Mairis Briedis for a second time on the Fury vs Usyk undercard – linked up with the Morecambe fighter during his camp in Saudi Arabia.
The 28-year-old joined Fury in Riyadh ahead of their respective fights on February 17 but only sparred five rounds before heading back to Australia.
British boxing legend Johnny Nelson recently came out to claim that Fury had been ‘getting turned over in the gym’ but Hearn has come forward to deny those.
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