- Oleksandr Usyk sparked controversy during his victory over Tyson Fury in May
- Fury’s team successfully campaigned to prevent a repeat of Sunday’s incident
- Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 LIVE: Ring Runtime, Results & Round-by-Round Updates
A major statement has been made on the eve of Oleksandr Usyk’s blockbuster heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury.
The Ukrainian will face the Gypsy King and defend his heavyweight crown at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Usyk became the first man ever to defeat Fury in a professional bout when the pair met over twelve rounds in May.
After a competitive opening, Usyk began to gain momentum in the later rounds and came close to stopping the Brit with a flurry of unanswered strikes in the ninth round, leaving Fury dazed.
Fury recovered from a standing count and showed his incomparable toughness to reach the final bell, but found himself on the wrong side of the judges’ decision.
Immediately following the instant classic, online speculation focused on Usyk’s actions in his corner between rounds.
Oleksandr Usyk has been ruled out of his mid-fight ritual against Tyson Fury
Fans speculated on social media after footage showed the Ukrainian kissing a crucifix during their first clash between rounds
As a result, Usyk will not be allowed to put his cross into the ring during Saturday’s rematch
A video widely circulated on social media showed the devout Christian kissing a cross on a chain while receiving instructions from his corner.
Some speculated that Usyk had actually used an inhaler, which was against boxing rules.
As a result, Fury’s team successfully campaigned to ensure the Ukrainian is not allowed to get his cross in the ring during the fight.
“After the fight there was a lot of speculation,” Frank Warren told Sky Sports.
“They weren’t sure what it was. We just went through it all.”
If Fury can get his revenge on Saturday night, he will join an elite group of fighters who have already won the heavyweight title three times.