Oleksandr Usyk has been banned from wearing the large crucifix he wears around his neck ahead of the Ukrainian boxer’s heavyweight title defence against British monster Tyson Fury.
Usyk stunned the boxing world in May when handed Fury his first career loss to claim the title of undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Just seven months later, the pair are going at it again in a blockbuster fight in Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning (AEDT), but officials already made one ruling before it even began, just hours before it started.
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The Ukrainian is often seen kissing his crucifix between rounds, as he did during his win over Fury in May, but he won’t have that luxury this time.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “After the (first) fight there was a lot of speculation, they weren’t sure what it was.
“We just cut through it all. If there’s anything that is used other than water that goes to the fighter’s lips, then the inspector will take it away and hold it.”
It was part of an early win for Fury, who was also not made to shave his beard.
Fury’s manager Spencer Brown said there is nothing in the laws of boxing that says you can’t fight with a beard.
“Tyson Fury has boxed with a beard on many occasions as do other fighters, most recently Beterbiev. Usyk himself has come out publicly and said Tyson having a beard is no problem,” he told ESPN.
“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.”
A WBC spokesperson said that everything, including beards, need to be inspected – which it was, and there was no issue.
Speaking before the fight, Warren backed Fury to knock out Usyk during the rematch in Riyadh.
Fury left immediately after scaling a career-high 127kg at the weigh-in at Wonder Garden, although he was fully clothed and wearing a heavy leather jacket when he stepped onto the scales.
Usyk, the WBA, WBC and WBO champion who won the first contest on a split decision, also kept his clothes on and weighed 102kg, the heaviest he has recorded.
After the rivals had engaged in a stare down for 11 minutes 20 seconds at Thursday’s head-to-head press conference, the final face off lasted only a few seconds before Fury turned away.
The 36-year-old then left sharply, leaving Queensbury Promotions boss Warren to answer questions.
“It’s going to be a war tomorrow (Sunday AEDT). That’s what it is,” Warren said.
“Tyson has come to get those titles back, that’s what he’s here for, that’s what he’s sacrificed a lot for and that’s what I believe will happen.
“You can analyse it how you like, the fact of that matter is we’re going to find out who is the best.
“And you know both of them are coming to fight. It’s going to be exciting. When that first bell goes they’re gong to get down to it and you’ll see something extra, extra special.
“In my opinion it will (finish inside the distance) – in Tyson’s favour.”
The weigh-in was a far more subdued affair than 24 hours earlier when Fury had to be pulled away after firing insults at Usyk, who enters the fight as a narrow favourite.
When Usyk was asked what he was feeling during the final meeting between the two before they clash for a second time at Kingdom Arena, he replied: “Nothing”.
A dispute over Fury’s beard has yet to be resolved, with Usyk’s camp reportedly objecting to its length having initially been satisfied that it caused no issues.
The identity of the third judge is also an area of contention after Fernando Barbosa fell ill and was unable to travel. Warren said a coin toss should determine who out of Steve Weisfeld and Ignacio Robles replaces him.
Saudi Arabia’s boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh is hoping for a Fury win that would set up a trilogy fight, but waiting in the wings is IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
Dubois defended the belt that was stripped from Usyk after he had become undisputed champion with a crushing fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua in October.
The 27-year-old, who faces Joseph Parker on February 22, wants to unify all of the titles.
“I want the winner. May the best man win and I look forward to the undisputed fight,” Dubois told BoxNation.
“Let’s see what happens after Saturday. I’m definitely a new animal, a new fighter. And ready to show it.”
– With AAP
