OLEKSANDR USYK has hit back at Tyson Fury challenging him to a bare-knuckle street brawl.
The heavyweight world champion, 35, was asked about Fury’s claim that he ducked out of a unification fight to instead rematch Anthony Joshua.
Oleksandr Usyk challenged Tyson Fury to a bare knuckle fight
Usyk denied Fury’s claim that he refused to fight him
Usyk stated he has never avoided a fight with anyone – even when it risked personal reputation.
Usyk said on Behind The Gloves: “He’s lying, I never duck anybody. If he wants I can fight him right now, with bare knuckles in the street.
“In all my career, I never ducked anybody.
“Even when I had to go to Moscow, Russia and the situations between the countries was very tight, I could have big problems in my country, even then, I went to Russia in Moscow, and I fought, and I showed everybody what I was capable of doing [by beating Murat Gassiev].”
Given Fury’s father John used to be a bare knuckle boxer, calling out The Gyspsy King for such a contest may not be wise.
But there has been a lot of trash talk between the various heavyweight boxing camps over the last few weeks.
Earlier this month AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn claimed Fury refused the Usyk bout as he wanted a warm up fight first – which will come against Dillian Whyte on April 23.
The Gypsy King hit back at that statement by claiming he could beat Joshua and Usyk on the same night – that pair will instead fight out a rematch at some point this year.
Fury would ordinarily respond to Usyk’s rebuttal but the WBC heavyweight world champion is now on a media blackout.
But before he fell silent Fury predicted another win for the Ukrainian over Joshua.
Usyk even offered to train Joshua one day after slamming his current training regime after the Brit dropped long-term mentor Rob McCracken.
