By Declan Taylor
Team Fury has been cautioned by Oleksandr Usyk that their fight week antics will have no impact on his determination to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Violence cast a dark shadow over Monday’s inaugural fight week event as John Fury, the father of Tyson Fury, engaged in a physical altercation with Stanislav Stepchuk, a member of Usyk’s team. The incident occurred during a series of interviews held at the central Riyadh Hilton while the two fighters were present.
Stepchuk walked away mostly unharmed, while Fury Sr, who was left with a bleeding head wound, offered apologies for the altercation.
Afterwards, Usyk took a seat for his media roundtable with the British press, wearing a smile as they raised the incident. While articulating his thoughts, his team gathered around him, and he pointed towards them to convey his assessment of the lobby incident.
Usyk expressed, “We are athletes of the highest caliber, not street brawlers, and this event holds great significance for our respective nations, the UK and Ukraine.”
“My team possesses exceptional enthusiasm for engaging in physical altercations, whether it be through boxing, street fighting, shooting, knives, or wrestling. However, I intervened and advised them to exercise restraint, reminding them of the importance of maintaining proper conduct.”
The situation holds no significance for me; it merely serves as added inspiration for my team. Any attempts to disrupt my team’s stability are futile. I possess not only professional coaches and trainers, but also professional soldiers.
Usyk mentioned that Stepchuk, who unexpectedly emerged as the main character in the day’s story, did not bleed as he was a strong individual.
“He’s quite the street-savvy individual. Have you watched that video? He displayed fierce determination, just like a Pitbull, rough! I commanded him to halt, and he complied without hesitation. He’s merely a close companion of mine, and it’s confidential information regarding the identities of the soldiers on my team.”
Naturally, it is disheartening that such an incident occurred during this event, which emphasizes the importance of discipline. However, I am not disappointed in my team; rather, they are disappointed because I intervened and prevented them from engaging in a fight.
They expressed their desire to leave as they glanced at me, eagerly anticipating the signal to proceed. Although they awaited a thumbs up, I disappointingly signaled a thumbs down. “Please retreat, step back,” I requested. Their reaction conveyed their discontentment.
Usyk, set to confront Fury in the inaugural undisputed heavyweight match since 1999, where the four major belts will be up for grabs, additionally asserted that triumph at the Kingdom Arena will not surpass his most significant boxing achievement.
Usyk, who claimed the 91kg champion title at London 2012, confidently asserts, “Undisputed may come and go, but my gold medal will forever hold greater value.”
All individuals engaged in sports, be it boxing, judo, or karate, share the common dream of participating in the Olympic Games. I am acquainted with men who possess three world championship medals but have yet to attain an Olympic gold, settling only for bronze. Personally, I have competed in two Olympics, yet my medal count stands at just one. The journey to the Olympics spans a period of four years, and even my last opponent, Clemente Russo, had participated in four Olympics without clinching a gold medal throughout his sixteen-year career.
“The Olympics spans over a four-year period, whereas obtaining a world title belt is relatively easier, achievable within a timeframe of six months to a year. However, it is important to recognize that professional boxing is a lucrative enterprise for certain individuals.”
While I view it as a form of recreation, many individuals perceive it as a lucrative enterprise driven by financial gains, championship titles, and widespread recognition.
To me, it is primarily a sport.
Despite this, Usyk has already devised a strategy to secure all four belts if he successfully departs Saudi Arabia with them.
He further states, “I shall escort them to their residence. I am expecting four belts, intended for my four children – two for my sons and two for my daughters, with each child receiving one.”
