Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk were scheduled to do battle in the ring to decide the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
Their much-anticipated clash was set to take place on Feb. 17, but disaster struck in the Tyson Fury camp yesterday as the WBC champion suffered a cut above his right eye.
The fight has been postponed as a result of the injury, and a new timeline for the clash is yet to be confirmed.
Rumors have begun circling that ‘The Gypsy King’ asked a sparring partner to cut him or that the Brit intentionally cut himself in order to avoid facing Usyk. Matchroom Boxing chairman and one of boxing’s leading promoters, Eddie Hearn, has now scoffed at suggestions that Fury cut himself on purpose.
SecondsOut interviewed Eddie Hearn following the recent news, where he shared his thoughts on the rumors surrounding Tyson Fury. He said this:
“What you’re ultimately implying, not you, but other people, is that Tyson Fury has asked someone to cut him open with a knife on his eye to avoid a fight. Which is absolutely ridiculous. Tyson Fury spars with an open head-guard, but he’s done it all his career, and many, many rounds. It looks like a complete freak injury.”
Catch Eddie Hearn’s comments below (1:48):