Tyson Fury’s father left bloodied after clash with member of Usyk’s entourage

The rival camps were separated by security in Riyadh.

John Fury sustained a cut and the rival camps had to be separated (Nick Potts/PA)

Mayhem broke out in a plush hotel in the centre of Riyadh when Tyson Fury’s father, John, butted a member of Oleksandr’s Usyk entourage. Fury and Usyk meet for the undisputed world heavyweight championship on Saturday but while both fighters remained calm the 59-year-old father of the WBC world champion reacted after sustained chanting of Usyk’s name by the Ukrainian contingent.

Angry words were exchanged between Fury Sr and a young Ukrainian, Stanislav Stepchuk, before the older man lost control. Fury Sr was left bleeding heavily from a gash across his forehead while Stepchuk appeared to only suffer a tiny cut.

CHAOS ERUPTS AS JOHN FURY IS CUT AFTER HEADBUTT ‼️

Watch the full clip HERE 🔗 https://t.co/f6qoDJgAvo#FuryUsyk | #JohnFury | #RiyadhSeason | #RingOfFire pic.twitter.com/ACLdpA0iKG

— IFL TV (@IFLTV) May 13, 2024

Tyson Fury initially laughed when hearing what had happened and said: “I didn’t see anything. I was in the room doing interviews for Sky Sports, but I’m not here for all that. I’m here to get the job done and go home and rest.”

His entourage and, his father in particular, are often vociferous and Fury shrugged. “They do what they do. I’ve definitely seen worse than a cut on the head.” 

Fury was more moved when told about the death of Sherif Lawal, the 28-year-old British boxer who died on Sunday night after making his professional debut in Harrow. 

“God rest his soul, poor old fella. You know getting into this sport that it’s dangerous. You go in there and get paid danger money. You’re getting your brains knocked out, you’re not there to tickle each other to death. We’re there to inflict damage on each other by punching each other to the head and body.

“Unfortunately, things like this happen now and again. We all know what we’re getting in for. It’s like people who do parachute jumping, now and again the parachute doesn’t open and they hit the floor. It doesn’t stop everyone from parachute jumping.

“I’ve known the risks my whole life. If it’s my time and it’s God’s will then I’ll die. If not I’ll live. I can’t tempt fate. In Terminator, Sarah Connor said something like ‘don’t tempt fate.’ I can’t decide what happens in the future or worry about it either.”

Against such a sombre backdrop, Fury dismissed Anthony Joshua’s arrival in Riyadh on Sunday as being of little consequence. Asked whether he thought Joshua was hoping to intensify interest in a future world title bout with him, Fury said: “There’s not much he can build because we [he and Uysk] have a two-fight deal. So he can build what he wants but he has to wait until it’s all over. Then we can negotiate.

“Now the Saudis are involved we can make these fights like that because money is not a problem. And it’s always about money in these deals.” The prospect of a rematch with Usyk made Fury smile. “Double-bubble, innit. What are we in this for? Money. If I can get double-bubble for one job there’s not much more to be said.”

Guardian