- Tyson Fury will return to the ring on Saturday night to face Oleksandr Usyk again
- He hasn’t spoken to Paris in over three months and won’t see her before the fight
- Fury’s ‘beast mode’ mentality extends to his physical appearance as well
Tyson Fury has revealed the extraordinary sacrifices and unconventional measures he’s taking ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, including cutting off all contact with his wife Paris and adopting a rugged new look to channel his most primal form.
Fury admitted he hasn’t spoken to Paris in over three months – claiming he has sacrificed a lot to ensure he is in the most ruthless physical and mental state heading in to the fight.
The former WBC heavyweight champion, who traditionally relies on his wife’s calming presence in his dressing room before a fight, stated he won’t allow her anywhere near him before this bout.
Fury’s ‘beast mode’ mentality extends to his physical appearance as well. Having sported a clean-shaven look in recent times, the Gypsy King has flipped the script entirely.
He told the media on Monday afternoon that he hadn’t touched anything ‘from the eyeballs down,’ allowing his beard to grow out wildly and neglecting his usual grooming routine.
However, Fury’s defiant new look could clash with boxing regulations. The Board requires fighters’ jawlines to be clearly visible during bouts for safety and officiating reasons.
Tyson Fury has revealed the extraordinary sacrifices and unconventional measures he’s taking ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion of the four-belt era by stripping Fury of his WBC title during their first bout in May
Fury, who traditionally relies on his wife’s calming presence in his dressing room before a fight, stated he won’t allow her anywhere near him before this bout
Fury has been forced to shave before, notably ahead of fights with Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder, but this time he’s reluctant to touch the long beard he’s grown as a symbol of his no-nonsense mentality.
He told the media he had no plans to trim or shave his beard until after the rematch with Usyk took place at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia on Saturday December 21.
Fury’s extreme measures show just how seriously he’s taking his rematch with Usyk, the man who handed him his first professional defeat and stripped him of the WBC heavyweight title.
After months of intense training and a complete mental reset, Fury insists he’s more focused and driven than ever. However, he claims he will maintain the same style of fighting.
‘I need to be more focused this time and not do as much showboating,’ he said. ‘One of the commentators said: ‘Has anybody ever seen Tyson Fury clown this much against even lower level opposition?’ That’s how easy it was for me and you can get complacent.’
However, he went on to add: ‘I won’t change anything. Why would I when I had control of the fight for maybe 80 per cent of it? I’m landing on him at will, head and body, lead right uppercuts, left hooks, right hooks to the body, doubles at times.
‘I don’t need to change anything. I don’t think he can, either, because he ain’t going to outbox me on the back foot. He has to come forward and make a fight of it.’
The rematch between Fury and Usyk promises to be one of the most ferocious and personal showdowns in recent boxing history. With Fury in ‘beast mode’ and shutting out even his closest allies, fans can expect nothing less than a primal, all-in performance from the Gypsy King.
