Tyson Fury alarm raised ahead of seismic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk - '85 per cent'

Tyson Fury alarm raised ahead of seismic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk - '85 per cent'

WATCH NOW: Tyson Fury speaks out ahead of Oleksandr Usyk showdown

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 20/04/2024

- 11:29

Updated: 20/04/2024

- 11:43

The Gypsy King is currently preparing as he looks to win the fight in Saudi Arabia

Derek Chisora fears Tyson Fury may only be training at '85 per cent' due to his eye injury as the Gypsy King's fight with Oleksandr Usyk creeps closer.

Fury was poor during his last fight against Francis Ngannou back in October, with the 35-year-old receiving big criticism in the time since.


The Briton was due to lock horns with Usyk back in February.

However, their fight was pushed back to May after the Gypsy King sustained a serious cut above his eye in sparring.

Boxing news Tyson Fury

Boxing news: Tyson Fury is currently in the spotlight as his showdown with Oleksandr Usyk nears

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Chisora, speaking to Crypto Casino LTD, is worried Fury may only be training at '85 per cent' because of the cut.

And he's worried that Usyk will target that area as the Ukrainian looks to maintain his 100 per cent record, having won all 21 of his career fights so far.

“The cut could play a big factor in the fight," he admitted.

"Has that massive cut managed to properly heal?

"It can make sparring difficult, you’d be cautious to open it up again. It’s a predicament.

“While Usyk is doing everything the right way, is Tyson doing his camp at 85 percent of what he would have been doing before he got the cut?

"Only his close team will know. Usyk is undoubtedly going to be targeting that cut.”

Chisora was dominated by Fury when the two men fought back in December 2022.

But the 40-year-old wants Fury to beat Usyk, adding: "I want the British man to win, 100 per cent.

"But if you’re a betting man you’d have to think: this is the cut he had against Otto Wallin and it’s going to come back again.

“I think Tyson is going to have to box on his back foot. But then again he might drop Usyk with an uppercut.”

Meanwhile, there have been claims that Fury was knocked down by Jai Opetaia in sparring earlier in the year.

They have been strongly denied by Fury and those close to the heavyweight star.

And Opetaia, speaking earlier this week, insisted he only left camp because he needs to prepare for his own upcoming fight with Mairis Briedis.

Speaking to Seconds Out, he said: “It was a great experience.

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Derek Chisora

Boxing news: Derek Chisora fears Tyson Fury is only able to train at '85 per cent' for his fight with Oleksandr Usyk

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"I’m so grateful to be called into that camp, being surrounded by other champions and world-class athletes, it’s just a whole other learning curve to be part of their camp for a week and a bit to see how they do things.

"It was all positive. He earned my respect and I’m sure I earned his.

“I was there a week.

"If I wasn’t fighting on the same card I would have stayed longer.

"I’m fighting Breidis, I’m not fighting someone 6ft9, so it didn’t make too much sense for me to stay around, and I needed some orthodox sparring.

Oleksandr Usyk

Boxing news: Derek Chisora wants Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk

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"We thought it would be smart to come home and finish our camp so we did.”

When quizzed on the rumours he knocked Fury down, he added: "All b******t.

"It’s annoying reporters spread absolute lies.”

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