Tyson Fury’s sparring opponent Agron Smakici wished to point out he “deserved respect” for a prank that backfired.
The Gypsy King suffered a brutal gash above his proper eye after he was caught by an unintended elbow from Smakici throughout sparring. Fury was within the remaining two weeks of his coaching camp forward of his undisputed heavyweight title bout in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk when he sustained the damage.
Fury’s damage required 14 stitches and meant that the February 17 showdown date needed to be scrapped. The 35-year-old was within the ring in opposition to the Croatian southpaw, who he had earlier upset when a playful prank didn’t land with the 33-year-old.
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During follow rounds with Smakici in Saudi Arabia, Fury thrust his crotch on the bottom of his coaching companion – who had beforehand sparred with Antony Joshua in his camps earlier than going through Usyk and Otto Wallin. Smakici was left feeling disrespected by the prank and wished to work even tougher to show to Fury he was not one to be messed with.
Their trade within the ring ended when the 20-2 fighter threw a left hook, however his elbow adopted via and struck the undefeated champ beneath his proper eyebrow. Speaking to The Sun about that prank, Smakici stated: “He did it but it surely was a joke and I didn’t take it severely. I used to be not indignant, as a result of he was laughing, he’s humorous. He is a comic. Yes it made me a little bit extra severe, it made me need to present him what I had.
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(Image: Queensberry)
(Image: @agron_smakici)
“But it was a clean punch and the elbow was not on purpose, I was just trying to give him better rounds and to show him that I deserved respect. I got that respect in the sparring and afterwards he said ‘great sparring, accidents happening, everything before was great’. Crazy things like this happen in boxing.”
Despite inflicting the primary undisputed heavyweight world title struggle this century to be delayed till May 18, Smakici and Fury parted on good phrases. The Croat has agreed to assist Fury’s good good friend Joseph Parker put together for his struggle in opposition to WBO interim heavyweight star Zhilei Zhang on March 8.