Tyson Fury adresses Oleksandr Usyk injury claim ahead of heavyweight rematch
Tyson Fury has dismissed speculation that he finished his undisputed world title bout with Oleksandr Usyk with a broken nose, following his outpoint defeat in May - the first professional loss in his career.
The pair are set to face off once more next month, with three titles at stake in Saudi Arabia. Their initial contest was tightly fought, with Usyk coming on strong after the half-way mark, nearly pushing the referee to halt the match in the ninth round as Fury found himself against the ropes.
However, the British heavyweight shot down any talk of an injury. "There was nothing wrong with my nose, just a bit of blood," he contended in a discussion with TNT Sports Boxing. "You get punched on the nose, your eyes water. It wasn't broken."
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For the fast-approaching rematch slated for Christmas, Fury acknowledges he might not be the favourite, nevertheless, he remains confident based on his track record of rematches. He's seen success before, finishing John McDermott, Derek Chisora, and Deontay Wilder in their second meetings.
Reflecting on his status as an underdog, Fury noted last month: "It's actually been about four and half years – the Deontay Wilder II fight – since I was the underdog in a fight. I'm looking forward to a fantastic fight. Oleksandr won the first fight fair and square", reports the Mirror.
"It was very close last time. I'll be a bit more focused, a lack of complacency and I should do the job. Nothing drastic has to change. A bit more of the same, a bit more focused, and I will be victorious. Last time it wasn't my time to win or God