Oleksandr Usyk fired back at Tyson Fury after footage emerged of the Brit mocking his earring.
Fury and Usyk will clash for the undisputed heavyweight championship on February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The pair have filmed a gloves are off style face off video to promote their highly-anticipated showdown, which will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999 and the first in the four-belt era.
The full video has not been aired yet, however a clip of ’The Gypsy King’ mocking his rival’s left earring surfaced on social media, with the WBC champion claiming that the Ukrainian’s jewellery alone gives him the confidence that he will win the clash.
“I know he can’t beat me,” Fury said to Steve Bunce.
“I know he can’t.
“A man who wears an earring in his ear can never beat Tyson Fury, ever.
“Not a chance.
“No one who wears earrings can beat me.”
Usyk responds to Furys jab about him wearing earrings‼️🥊 #FuryUsyk pic.twitter.com/EUtryR97eQ
— LondonRunzBoxing (@LondonRunz) January 24, 2024
Usyk, who heads into the fight as the WBA ‘super’, WBO and IBF champion snapped back at the comments, revealing the earring symbolised those that defended his native Ukraine.
The 37-year-old enlisted in the Ukrainian territorial defence following the invasion of Russia in 2022, prior to returning to the ring to defeat Anthony Joshua in their rematch in Saudi Arabia.
“I can explain about the earrings,” Usyk responded.
“It’s Ukrainian warrior, Cossack.
“They were the people who defended my country from our enemies for many years.
“This is just the proof of my Cossack lineage – they never lost to anybody. There is no beauty or fashion in this.”
Fury replied: “Listen in Ukraine it means he’s a good fighting man, for him.
“But where I’m from it means he’s a p***y with an earring in.”
Fury, 35, fights for the first time since climbing off the canvas to defeat former UFC heavyweight champion and debutant, Francis Ngannou by split decision in August.
Usyk, who was undisputed champion at cruiserweight, defended his three world titles with a ninth round stoppage over Daniel Dubois in August after he was controversially given the benefit of the doubt for a low blow, which Dubois’ team disputed, yet were unsuccessful in their appeals.
