Tyson Fury 'very Marmite' as sparring details drop from key source ahead of crunch Oleksandr Usyk fight

Itauma, who is a rising heavyweight himself, has been sparring with Fury prior to the bout.

The 19-year-old is, therefore, well-placed to provide details of how Fury has been faring behind the scenes.

And Itauma has now claimed that Fury has been 'very Marmite' in training, admitting he's good on some days and 'unbelievable' on others.

"Obviously I was in Tyson's camp," the teenager told talkSPORT.

"He was very Marmite in sparring - some days he'd do good but in some he'd been unbelievable.

"It honestly depends on what version of Fury turn up.

"If the one sparring on good days turns up he will have a very easy night with Usyk.

"As I say he's very Marmite, he could have a bad day in sparring and I feel like the Francis Ngannou fight was a very bad day."

Fury was poor against Ngannou.

He went into the showdown with the 37-year-old expected to breeze to victory, with his opponent having his first professional boxing fight.

But Fury was knocked to the canvas by Ngannou and only won via split decision, with some feeling his rival deserved to triumph instead.

Itauma has, however, defended the Gypsy King for his abject showing after Anthony Joshua powered his way past Ngannou earlier this month.

"He [Fury] gave me loads of advice," the rising star continued.

"Currently, I think he is No 1. There are so many factors people don't take into account.

"Joshua had something to learn off [before fighting Ngannou in October 2023], Fury never did. Fury was the first person to do that crossover.

"It was great entertainment. Whether he took it seriously is another thing."

Fury himself, meanwhile, was recently asked about his condition ahead of the bout with Usyk.

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The Briton has been working hard in the gym and, these days, is noticeably slimmer than before.

And Fury, speaking while attending Manchester United's 4-3 FA Cup win over Liverpool, provided a positive update to his fans.

"[I'm] Very fit. I have got nine weeks to go so you can ask me in nine weeks if I am fit and ready," he said.

"I have just started camp, literally a few days ago so yeah I will be fit and ready by the time the fight comes, for sure."

There is a rematch clause installed in the deal, with Fury saying Usyk insisted on one.

"We had this big argument this year, I don't know if you remember when I said 'no rematch clauses', but [Usyk] was acting like a little b***h crying over a rematch," Fury said.

"He didn't want to just throw it down and whoever won, won, so he ends up getting his rematch clause."