Tyson Fury has been snapped training with a Russian contract soldier ahead of his bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
The Gypsy King, 36, is ramping up preparations for his highly-anticipated rematch with the Ukrainian, set for for December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And Fury has been sparring with a selection of boxer’s ahead of the showpiece.
One of those Fury has been sparring with is Russian fighter Aleksei Dronov. Drobov, a contract soldier with Russia‘s Ministry of Internal Affairs and a member of the Dinamo sports club, is in the database of athletes who have publicly supported the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
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Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine for a three-day special military mission almost three years ago. Usyk himself has fought for his country in the conflict and described how his family’s home has been shot at.
Dronov has amateur gold medals at the European and World Championships, as well as at the Youth Olympic Games. And since turning professional he boasts a perfect 4-0 record with two KOs.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Fury has adopted a new mentality ahead of the bout, after he lost on points last time out: “I’ve always been a bad man my whole life, and I’m still one today at nearly 40 years old, a few years off 40.
“I’m going to go in there with destroy mode. Last time I went to box him, I was being cautious. Anybody can get caught as we have seen in a lot of these heavyweight fights.
“But this time I’m not going for a points decision. I’m going to knock [him] out.”
The WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles will be on the line, after Usyk was forced to drop the IBF belt following his victory in the spring due to rules that state Usyk has to face his IBF mandatory – not Fury.