Oleksandr Usyk’s team have been left incensed after Tyson Fury was told he could keep his beard for their upcoming rematch.
Fury is looking to overcome a first professional defeat, suffered against the Ukrainian back in May, by beating him a second time around in Saudi Arabia.
Turki Alalshikh has already hinted at a rematch if Tyson Fury wins and the eyes of the boxing world will be watching to see if Fury can recover from a first professional setback.
In any high-pressure situation, fighters will look to gain any advantage they can and in bizarre fashion, Usyk’s team claimed that Tyson Fury’s beard was at an unfair length.
What did Oleksandr Usyk’s team say about Tyson Fury’s beard?
In the run up to fight, Olekandr Usyk’s team flagged the length of the ‘Gypsy King’s’ beard, saying: “Will Tyson Fury be required to trim that beard?”
Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk told The Independent that they felt “grossly violated” and that they would do everything possible.
It’s believed that the Ukrainian’s team believe that the beard can act as a cushion to soak up the punches and therefore provide an advantage for Fury.
They also cited the WBC’s rulings on beards, which states: “A boxer may [sport] a trimmed beard and/or moustache as long as, [at] the discretion of the commission and the supervisor, the facial hair thickness does not: (1) cushion or in any way affect the impact or trajectory of punches; or (2) cause cuts or abrasions to his rival.”
Commission reach verdict on Tyson Fury’s beard ahead of Usyk rematch
Fury has switched between sporting a beard and going for a clean-shaven look over the years.
Ahead of the rematch in Riyadh, Fury revealed he had gone into “beast mode” during his time in camp, which may provide some explanation for the beard.
But, despite team Usyk’s best efforts, they couldn’t get the commission on their side to make the 36-year-old get rid of his facial hair.
Sky Sports’ Andy Scott revealed that the commission ruled that: “The commission ruled ‘no’, because – as it is – there are no specified rules. They want a trim and neat beard, so they don’t want a sharp beard that you could use to rub on your [opponent’s] face and aggravate a cut, and obviously they don’t want something that is too extreme.
“But they were quite happy with that beard, and this is not stating the obvious but: it’s not gonna grow [much] overnight! So, it is a relief that it isn’t gonna become a talking point, but it is worth flagging.”