Tyson Fury’s manager has revealed the boxing star won’t be shaving his beard, despite complaints from Oleksandr Usyk’s camp ahead of their boxing fight tonight.
The two men will lock horns in Saudi Arabia for a second time, with Usyk winning their first bout earlier in the year.
While the Ukrainian doesn’t appear too bothered by Fury’s big beard, his camp have been left unhappy.
According to ESPN, they requested that the 36-year-old trim his facial hair. However, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman believes the look complies by their rules.
Tyson Fury’s manager has revealed the boxing star won’t be shaving his beard, despite complaints from Oleksandr Usyk’s camp ahead of their boxing fight tonight
REUTERS
The current regulations state that ‘a boxer may spouse a trimmed beard … as long as, in the direction of the commission and the supervisor, the facial hair thickness does not: 1) cushion or in any way affect the impact or trajectory of punches; or 2) cut cuts or abrasions to his rival.’
And Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, has revealed the boxing star will be sporting the look when he steps out into the ring on Saturday.
“Tyson Fury has boxed with a beard on many occasions as do other fighters, most recently [Artur] Beterbiev,” he said, referring to Beterbiev’s victory over Dmitry Bivol back in October.
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“Usyk himself has come out publicly and said Tyson having a beard is no problem.
“There is no law or ruling in boxing to say you can’t fight with a beard. It’s ridiculous that this has already been brought up in a rules meeting to no avail.
“Simply put if Usyk had a beard we would have no issue.
“This is not a fashion show, it’s boxing.”
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Tonight’s fight between Fury and Usyk has the makings of a classic.
Their first showdown in May, which took place after several delays, lived up to the billing by going the distance.
Fury was convinced he’d done enough to reign supreme, despite being wobbled by Usyk in the ninth round of the clash.
But his rival won the bout instead, with the 37-year-old preserving his perfect boxing record in the process.
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Tyson Fury will be sporting his big beard for tonight’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk
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Usyk was asked about Fury’s beard earlier in the week.
He said ‘for me it won’t matter’ before adding: “It can’t help Tyson Fury.”
Usyk also revealed during an interview with TNT Sports that he wanted to ‘smack Fury’s face until his cheeks go red.’
When asked about the pre-fight hype, he said: “Off course. Yes, I enjoy this.
Tyson Fury was clean shaven when he lost to Oleksandr Usyk in their first boxing fight back in May
PA
“Because these are the emotions, these are the memories that when we are two old men, he [Tyson] promised to come to Ukraine to my ranch.
“We’re going to be drinking beer and he will say ‘remember how you beat me twice’.
“I want to smack his face until his cheeks go red. But I keep in mind that I have to be calm.”