By Declan Taylor
OLEKSANDR USYK has warned Crew Fury that no quantity of combat week antics will ‘destabilise’ his quest to turn into undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Monday’s first combat week occasion was marred by violence as John Fury, father of Tyson, headbutted a smaller member of Usyk’s crew, Stanislav Stepchuk, as the 2 fighters carried out a lot of interviews on the Hilton in central Riyadh.
Fury Sr, who was left reduce and bleeding from the top, apologised for the altercation whereas Stepchuk walked away largely unscathed.
Usyk later sat down for his media roundtable with the British press and smiled when the incident was introduced up. As he spoke, his crew stood round and he gestured in direction of them when he evaluated what had occurred within the foyer.
“We’re skilled athletes, not avenue fighters and this can be a large occasion for our folks, the UK and Ukraine,” Usyk mentioned.
“My crew is excellent at desirous to combat, not boxing, avenue preventing, capturing, knives, wrestling. However I mentioned ‘hey, hey guys, get again’. We needed to behave correctly.”
“The scenario doesn’t matter to me, it’s simply extra motivation for my crew. In the event that they wish to destabilise my crew, it’s not doable. As a result of I don’t simply have skilled coaches and trainers, I’ve skilled troopers.”
On Stepchuk, who turned an unlikely protagonist within the story of the day, Usyk added: “My buddy didn’t bleed as a result of he’s a robust man.
“He’s a avenue man. Did you see the video, he was like a Pitbull, ruff! I mentioned ‘cease!’ and so they mentioned OK. He’s solely my buddy, it’s a secret who the troopers are in my crew.
“In fact it’s disappointing that it occurred at an occasion like this, as a result of it’s about self-discipline. I’m not upset by my crew, they’re upset as a result of I pulled them again and stopped them from preventing.
“They wished to go, they have been trying over at me ready for the sign to go. They have been ready for the thumbs up however I gave them the thumbs down. ‘Again, again please,” I mentioned. And so they weren’t glad.”
Usyk, who faces Fury within the first undisputed heavyweight combat since 1999 and the primary ever with the 4 main belts on the road, additionally declared that victory on the Kingdom Enviornment will nonetheless not be sufficient to trump his biggest boxing triumph.
“My gold medal will at all times be higher than undisputed,” says Usyk, who turned 91kg champion at London 2012.
“Everybody who does sport – any sport, boxing, judo karate – all of them dream of the Olympic video games.“I do know males with three world championships medals however no Olympic gold – solely bronze. I did two Olympics and solely obtained one medal.“It takes 4 years, my remaining opponent Clemente Russo had finished 4 Olympics, nonetheless no gold medal, in 16 years.
“The Olympics takes 4 years however a world title belt is straightforward, you may get one in six months, or a 12 months. However skilled boxing is a enterprise for some folks.
“For me it’s sport however for lots of people it’s a enterprise, it’s cash, belts, fame.
For me, first, it’s a sport.”
Even so, Usyk already has a plan for the 4 belts ought to he depart Saudi Arabia with them within the maintain.
“I’ll take them again dwelling,” he provides. “I’ve 4 belts coming for 4 kids, two for my sons and two for my daughters, one every.”
