Tyson Fury responds to injury claim before Oleksandr Usyk rematch

Fury looked to have broken his nose in his first fight with Usyk but has denied he was injured during their undisputed world title clash

Tyson Fury was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk (
Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Tyson Fury has denied he suffered a broken nose during his undisputed world title defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury was outpointed by Usyk in May as he suffered the first professional defeat of his career. The rivals will clash again next month in their rematch with only three belts on the line in Saudi Arabia. Their first fight was one of two halves with Usyk taking control after the halfway points.

He had Fury on the ropes in the ninth round and almost forced the referee into stopping the fight – but the Brit rejected the suggestion he was injured. “There was nothing wrong with my nose, just a bit of blood,” he told TNT Sports Boxing. “You get punched on the nose, your eyes water. It wasn’t broken.”

Fury will likely start as the underdog for the Christmas sequel – but is confident he will continue his record in rematches. Fury stopped John McDermott, Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder in their respective fight. And he said last month: “It’s actually been about four and half years – the Deontay Wilder II fight – since I was the underdog in a fight. I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight. Oleksandr won the first fight fair and square.

“It was very close last time. I’ll be a bit more focussed, a lack of complacency and I should do the job. Nothing drastic has to change. A bit more of the same, a bit more focused, and I will be victorious. Last time it wasn’t my time to win or God would have given me victory. I’m very happy Usyk got the decision. That was meant to be, and we’re going to find out what is meant to be on December 21.

“I believe it’s my time this time and all things that happen – positive or negative – are lessons and we must learn from these things as humans, boxers, fathers and husbands. What we know is to go out there and knock each other out and put on a show for the paying customer. I hope you guys will enjoy this fight as much as I will.”

Both Fury and Usyk took to social media last week as they counted down the days until they meet again, with Fury posting: “Four weeks to go to the biggest fight of the year. The biggest fighting in boxing. Me and Usyk, and I’m coming in hot. I’m coming in hot! Get up, can’t wait. December 21… the belts are gonna be mine again! Get up.”