With only one day left until the highly anticipated heavyweight championship showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, tensions are rising as both camps dispute the selection of a replacement official.
The rematch, set to take place this Saturday as part of the Riyadh Season, will see the WBO, WBA, and WBC titles on the line, which Usyk captured from Fury in their previous encounter.
Originally, Fernando Barbosa was slated to be one of the three judges, but he has been sidelined due to illness. To fill the gap, officials Steve Weisfeld and Ignacio Robles have been brought in, but disagreements over which judge to assign have emerged, prompting promoter Frank Warren to suggest a coin toss as a potential solution.
This dilemma must be resolved by the commission ahead of the fight.
Warren noted, “One of the judges has taken ill of the three that were decided upon. There are two standby judges, both flying in, and we’ve got to decide which one it’s going to be.” He indicated hope for a mutual agreement: “This will get sorted out. Both camps are professional and understand their roles.”
Additional discussions during Friday’s rules meeting highlighted various contentious points, including the length of Fury’s beard, the positioning of his shorts, and the presence of a cross in Usyk’s corner. While minor in appearance, these factors are significant to both teams.
Traditionally, boxers are required to maintain a trimmed beard to avoid causing further injury by scraping against cuts. However, the decision favored Fury, allowing him to keep his facial hair for the bout. “There have been many fighters over the years who fought with beards, and that remains the case,” Warren stated.
Fury’s team also sought confirmation that punches landing below the navel would be classified as low blows. This clarity aims to prevent confusion similar to previous contests, ensuring that both fighters understand the rules before entering the ring.
Furthermore, in light of Usyk’s past actions, Fury’s camp has requested that no “foreign objects” be allowed in either corner to minimize any potential misunderstandings. Warren emphasized, “If anything other than water reaches the fighter’s lips, it will be addressed accordingly.”
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s monumental rematch is set to unfold live this Saturday, December 21.
