Oleksandr Usyk reveals ice-cold reaction after being told Tyson Fury had pulled out of fight with freak injury
OLEKSANDR USYK revealed his ice-cold reaction to the news that Tyson Fury had pulled out of their super-fight.
The pair of unbeaten champions were due to collide in the first-ever four-belt heavyweight unification on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
GettyOleksandr Usyk saw his fight with Tyson Fury postponed[/caption]
But, with just over two weeks to go, Fury suffered a horrendous cut in sparring that left him with no choice but to withdraw from the bout.
The two later featured on The MMA Hour to confirm they had agreed to a rearranged date of May 18.
Usyk was in the gym when he was told of the devastating news – but he refused to be fazed.
He said: “My reaction was just to smile, I am training after my sparring my team told me that Tyson fury was cut.
“After that, I just smiled and went back to training.”
Both men have also agreed to hand over over £10MILLION of their own cash if either are to pullout within the next three months.
Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh revealed if Usyk is to withdraw, Anthony Joshua, 34, will be given the chance to replace him and fight Fury.
But if lightening strikes twice and again Fury, 35, is forced out, then Usyk, 37, will get to choose a replacement opponent.
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Alalshikh said: “We’ve delayed this fight until May 18, I’ve guaranteed both fighters 10 million if someone has escaped the fight.
“I also guarantee another big fight on the same night. I will make fans around the world know if someone is scared for this fight.
“If Usyk is scared I will call for Joshua-Tyson, if Tyson is scared I will call for another fighter that Usyk wants.”
Fury added: “I was very disappointed, I’ve been in Saudi Arabia five weeks training and everything was going fantastic,” he said.
“It’s a cut that you can’t help and these things happen in camp sometimes.
“I know His Excellency has spent a lot of money on promotion, there’s nothing that anybody can do, It’s god’s will.”
Tyson Fury’s cut that postponed the fightX @Queensbury