John Fury will not be in his son Tyson’s corner in his world heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, the Gypsy King’s trainer has confirmed.
Tyson, 36, is trying to bounce back after losing a split decision to the Ukrainian in May, with Usyk becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 following his win in Saudi Arabia.
The Gypsy King’s father John, 59, was criticized by several fans for his behavior in the build-up to May’s fight after he was left bloodied after headbutting a member of Usyk’s camp.
John bled from his forehead after launching the attack in the lobby of the Riyadh Hilton Hotel in Saudi Arabia.
Footage that quickly circulated on social media showed Fury Snr lashing out with his head at Stanislav Stepchuk, who was wearing Usyk’s tracksuit. He then had to be restrained after security intervened to prevent further confrontation.
After the fight, fans suggested that John’s presence in the corner distracted Tyson from the tactical advice of his coach Andy Lee and trainer SugarHill Steward.
John Fury (above) will not be in his son Tyson’s corner for the world title fight in Riyadh on Saturday
Tyson (above) tries to bounce back against Usyk after losing his first fight in May
Now SugarHill has confirmed that Tyson’s father will not be in the corner for the showpiece on Saturday.
“Tyson is just ready for it now, together with myself,” said the trainer. “He’s always had a crazy attitude and played a bit, but this is a different side of him and he’s 100 percent ready.”
When asked who exactly will be in the corner, SugarHill replied, “Just me, Andy Lee and the cutman, that’s all.”
Meanwhile, Lee admitted that we may have had too many votes in Tyson’s corner last time.
He added: “Last time the corner was hectic, especially towards the end of the fight. There were three different voices in it: SugarHill, John and me.
“From a father’s perspective, I can understand that he was trying to protect his son. But SugarHill tried to win the fight. I was told Tyson was two rounds down and I had to tell him that.”
Tyson is determined to avenge his only professional defeat – and perhaps he has decided that his father’s exclusion from the corner will help him focus.
The Gypsy King revealed earlier this week that he has not spoken to his wife Paris in three months after locking himself away from his training camp.
The Gypsy King is determined to avenge his split-decision defeat by the Ukrainian (left)
Tyson admitted he did too much ‘clowning’ and vowed to take Saturday’s fight more seriously
His 59-year-old father headbutted a member of Usyk’s entourage before their fight in May
Promoter Frank Warren has explained the thinking behind Tyson cutting himself off from the outside world ahead of this weekend’s heavyweight showdown.
“His mind just has to be Usyk,” Warren told Mail Sport exclusively.
Trying to get into the mind of the Gypsy King, he added, “This is what I have to do. I don’t want to be distracted.
‘I don’t want to know if there is a problem at home. I don’t know if I have a business problem. All I want to do is focus on this. This is what I want. I have to win this fight.
‘It’s not about the titles, it’s about beating the man who made the decision in the last fight in a very, very close fight, a split decision. He feels like he has to do this to win that.
“I have to make sacrifices, I have to be in that mood, I have to be in that mindset, I have to focus on this is what it is. And I won’t be distracted, no one will distract me. Turning lights on, that’s all. And that’s where he’s at.”
Earlier this month, Tyson vowed to take his rematch against Usyk more seriously this time, admitting he did too many ‘clowns’ in the last fight.
He said, ‘I’ll just throw more this time. Keep hitting him in the face more times than last time.
The boxer has revealed that he has not spoken to his wife Paris (left) for the past three months
Frank Warren believes Tyson is eliminating all distractions so he can focus on beating Usyk
“I’m just going to box smart, box smart and if I catch him, get him out of there. ‘It’s very similar to what I did last time.
‘A little less clowning and a little more focus and that’s basically it.
“I’ve done more clowning than anyone in any high-level fight has ever done.
“It’s also taken my focus away, so maybe a little less clowning and more focus on the actual win. I was messing around too much there.”