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Tyson says comeback at 57 was ‘no-brainer’

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Tyson Fury’s father John was seen with blood gushing from his forehead on Monday after a video seemed to show him butting a member of Oleksandr Usyk’s camp in the build-up to Saturday’s undisputed world heavyweight clash in Riyadh.

The incident took place at the hotel hosting Monday’s pre-fight media day and was quickly brok en up by security.

Footage shared on X appeared to show John Fury go eyeball-to-eyeball with a man wearing an Usyk team tracksuit before lashing out at him with his head.

The 59-year-old was later seen with a cut forehead and two streams of blood pouring down his face, either side of his nose.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, John Fury said: “They were disrespecting my son, the best ever heavyweight to wear a pair of boxing gloves.

“Coming out with all that rubbish, in my face, trying to be clever.

“Coming into my space, ‘Usyk, Usyk’, nobody is bothering with them, I was only chanting my own son’s name.

“So they stepped closer and stepped closer and at the end of it I am a warrior, that is what we do.

“If you come in the space, you are going to get what is coming.”

His son, Tyson Fury, was not present when the incident occurred.

“I didn’t see anything, I was in the room doing interviews, but I’m not here for all that, I’m here to get th e job done and go home and rest,” said the World Boxing Council heavyweight titleholder.

Saudi authorities sa id that no charges have been filed regarding the incident at present.

But Alexander Krassyuk, the promoter of Tyson Fury’s Ukrainian opponent Usyk, told Sky that John Fury should apologise for his actions.

“It would be nice if we hear some apologies from John because it was his behavior,” said Krassyuk.

“We are the example for the world, the whole world is watching us and new generations, kids, are taking us as examples.

“What will they see from this? What will they make of this?

“Of course there is going to be some rush on the internet but it is up to him if he wants to apologize, it is up to him.”

Fury and Usyk face off in the Saudi capital on Saturday with the winner able to become the first unified champion of boxing’s four-belt era.

NEW YORK – Former heavyweight king Mike Tyson said Monday (Tuesday Manila time) his decision to step back into the ring at the age of 57 was a “no-brainer”, brushing off recent criticism that he was too old to make a comeback.

At a press conference in New York to promote his upcoming bout against YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul, Tyson admitted training for his return had taken a toll.

“I’m doing great but my body is [expletive] right now, I’m sore, I’m really sore,” said Tyson, who faces Paul on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, that is home to the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.

But the boxer who terrorized the heavyweight division in the 1980s and 1990s as the self-styled “baddest man on the planet” insisted he had no reservations about lacing up his gloves again, nearly two decades after his last professional fight in 2005.

“It was a no-brainer,” said Tyson. “He’s a new up-and-coming guy on the scene. And I like shaking the sports world to its core and I am doing it now. It’s just something that I want to do.”

Tyson, who turns 58 in June, takes on the 27-year-old Paul in a professional bout comprising eight two-minute rounds that has been sanctioned by boxing authorities in Texas.

However several members of the boxing community, including former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, have voiced reservations about the fight, expressing concern Tyson could be hurt.

Tyson dismissed the doubters though when asked for his response on Monday.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” Tyson said. “The people who said that wish that they were up here. No one else can do this.”

Paul meanwhile said he is ready to deal with Tyson’s experience and power.

“A lot of people are doubting me,” Paul said. “I see the comments, saying, ‘if Jake wins this fight it’s rigged’ because of how incredible he looks. Age doesn’t matter.

“He’s a killer. He’s a warrior. He’s been doing this his whole life so it’s second nature to him. I’ve only been doing this for four years and at a super high level.

“On July 20, I’m going to show the world that I can outbox Mike Tyson and prove everyone wrong, and show that I’m going to be the one doing the killing.”

Tyson, meanwhile, said he held no animosity toward his much younger opponent.

“I really like Jake a lot. But once he’s in that ring, he has to fight like his life is depending on it, because it will be,” Tyson quipped.

The former heavyweight icon even refused to rule out further fights down the line.

“Maybe we’ll do it again,” Tyson said. “But can I take care of Jake first, please?”

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