Tyson Fury vows to put Oleksandr Usyk in ‘hurt locker’

Tyson Fury insists the time for joking is over as he pledged to put unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in the “hurt locker” when they clash for the second time in Riyadh on Saturday.

Fury has cut a menacing figure at the week’s promotional events and Thursday’s head to head press conference continued along the same theme as the usually verbose 36-year-old Briton kept the talking to a minimum.

The biggest flashpoint came towards the end of a protracted 12-minute face-off when Fury began taunting Usyk, who hit back with his own insults and a smile, before they were eventually separated.

“I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain. I’m going to put this f***** in the hurt locker, for sure,” a heavily-bearded Fury said.

“I’ve got nothing to say apart there’s going to be a whole lot of hurt and pain in this fight, you watch. Watch me go to work on this f*****.

“The talking has been done. The first fight I talked and joked. All of my career. This time I’m serious – I’m going to do some f*****g damage here on Saturday night.”

Fury’s approach to the build-up to the rematch is very different to the first fight when he sought to unsettle Usyk verbally and by towering over him at every available opportunity.

The tactic did not work and Usyk produced his finest career victory with a split decision win to add Fury’s WBC belt to his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

In reference to his successful gameplan of stalking the ‘Gypsy King’ around the ring, the 37-year-old promised a repeat performance.

“Don’t be afraid. I will not leave you alone. See you on Saturday,” said Usyk, who was subsequently stripped of the IBF title for refusing to face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.

Fury’s brother Tommy and wife Paris watched from the crowd