Tyson Fury sends stark message to Oleksandr Usyk as he alters pre-fight method
Tyson Fury didn’t throw a punch in his open workout in Riyadh and instead made a chilling promise to Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his world title rematch in Saudi Arabia
Tyson Fury kept cool on a brisk evening in Saudi Arabia, oozing confidence as he promised “pain” for his rival Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their hotly-anticipated clash.
During an open workout in Riyadh, the ‘Gypsy King’ kept his moves under wraps, electing not to throw any punches in the ring. At 36, Fury wasn’t alone in taking a minimalist approach; many fighters opted for brief displays of shadow boxing before making quick exits.Usyk, on the other hand, infused some entertainment with dance moves while someone crooned by the lighting rig, creating quite the spectacle as he practiced his jabs. Fury made his appearance at Boulevard World theme park decked out in a leather jacket atop his tracksuit, removing it only to take a leisurely stroll inside the ring as his trainer SugarHill Steward looked on.
It’s been confirmed that Fury’s father John won’t feature in his corner this time around, reports the Mirror. In a contemplative moment, Fury gazed skyward perhaps whispering a prayer as the much-anticipated rematch for the WBA, WBO, and WBC titles nears before finally donning his gloves.
However, he stopped short of any padwork. This tempered demonstration is in stark contrast to May, when fury treated onlookers to a 15-minute workout before his ultimate defeat in the so-called undisputed fight.
This time around, there was no workout session. He quickly struck poses for the cameras before abruptly engaging in an interview, where he repeatedly used the terms “pain”, “a lot of damage” and “serious damage”.The British fighter’s mood was sombre. Whether it’s a psychological game or a real representation of his state of mind is anybody’s guess. Fury had already left by the time Usyk entered the scene.
Usyk, who is defending his title, made an entrance to the sound of Ukrainian tunes, sung by a man perched upon the scaffolding that supported the lighting rig above the ring. Amid the melodies, ‘The Cat’ showcased his agility as he danced around the ring, occasionally throwing punches.The atmosphere felt unusual on what turned out to be an unexpectedly cool evening for a region where temperatures seldom drop to single digits. However, make no mistake, the action slated for Saturday night promises to turn up the temperature, regardless of whether or not the Arabian sun decides to shine.
