Tyson Fury camp dubbed 'thuggish' and 'rude' with stinging attack launched following Oleksandr Usyk defeat

Tyson Fury camp dubbed 'thuggish' and 'rude' with stinging attack launched following Oleksandr Usyk defeat

WATCH NOW: Reaction as Oleksandr Usyk stuns Tyson Fury

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 20/05/2024

- 09:17

The 35-year-old was unable to win in Saudi Arabia and will now mull over his future

Tyson Fury's camp were 'thuggish' and 'rude' with their behaviour in Saudi Arabia prior to his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

That's according to former boxing star Johnny Nelson, who feels the antics of his father, John, and the rest of his entourage have let the country down.


Fury lost to Usyk on points on Saturday night, with the Briton tasting defeat for the first time as a professional.

It was a crushing loss for the Gypsy King, who has admitted to having regrets after seeing his unbeaten record ruthlessly ended.

Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury was left bloodied after losing to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night

REUTERS

Prior to the fight, John Fury sparked controversy by headbutting a member of Usyk's team.

The 59-year-old caught Stanislav Stepchuk, though he barely flinched and opted against retaliating due to the age gap between the two men.

And Nelson, writing for the Daily Mail, has condemned Fury's camp - describing them as 'thuggish' and 'rude'.

"I always love the Brit to win but there is a growing amount of people who follow our sport that are happy he didn’t. And you have to ask, why is that?" he wrote.

"There is a responsibility that comes with being a world champion and how Tyson and his entourage conduct themselves in the build-up to a fight leaves me cold.

"It's thuggish, it's rude and it can't be excused as big fight showmanship any more."

Nelson then proceeded to say that Fury's camp made British people look bad.

"Like it or not, British sports fans are still viewed around many parts of the world as hooligans and the antics shown by people close to Tyson do nothing to dispel that," he added.

"They are representing our sport, our country, they are part of him, a world champion.

"Yet it comes to a point where I find myself saying 'You're a great fighter but you know what? This is not on, we've had enough.'"

Fury is a national hero.

He has battled mental health issues over the years, with the veteran long opening up on his fight with depression.

Nelson thinks that, because of the issues he's had, Fury is sometimes exempt from criticism.

But that's something the former boxing star believes is wrong, with the 57-year-old insisting it can't make up for the way his camp behave.

"Tyson's story as an underdog, who has battled his mental demons to get back on the road to recovery and rise to being a champion is a bestseller," he continued.

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John Fury

Tyson Fury's father, John Fury, sparked controversy before the fight with Oleksandr Usyk by headbutting a member of the Ukrainian's team

PA

"It has warmed the hearts of people who don't necessarily follow boxing.

"He has made enough money now for his family and all his descendants to live comfortably for life but what's it worth when you tarnish a legacy in this way?

"People are scared to criticise for fear of being insensitive because of Tyson's mental issues.

"That shouldn't excuse his behaviour."

Fury, meanwhile, also sparked controversy in the immediate aftermath of the fight.

Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury was powerless as Oleksandr Usyk powered his way to victory in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night

REUTERS

The Briton seemed to suggest Usyk was given the win because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He did, however, suggest he'd be ready for a potential rematch later in the year - with a second fight between the two men widely expected to take place in October.

"I believe I won that fight, I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them," he said.

"We both put on a good fight. His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war.

"Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion. We've got a rematch clause.

"I've had a split decision loss to a good little man. We run it back in October. Well done Oleksandr."

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