Tyson Fury defender, boxing commentator Spencer Oliver, denies the “coward” label assigned to him by Oleksandr Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas in reaction to his eye injury, causing the postponement of their undisputed heavyweight clash.
Oliver has stepped up to defend WBC belt-holder Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs), saying it was accidental and that he didn’t have someone intentionally injure his eye so he could get out of the fight.
The injury is giving the 35-year-old Fury additional time to prepare for his undisputed clash against IBF, WBA & WBO champion Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs), with the contest rescheduled for May 18th at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Denying Cowardice
“I was disappointed we didn’t get the undisputed fight. Let’s put this to bed now. Tyson Fury is NOT a coward. Forget all that. The guy is proven; he’s not a coward,” said Spencer Oliver to Boxing Social, who refutes the label many fans have about Tyson Fury after his recent pull out of his February 17th bout against Oleksandr Usyk.
Whatever the case, Fury has more time to try and find the Fountain of Youth to regain the form he once had many years ago. Fury has looked something awful in the last two fights, getting dominated by novice Francis Ngannou, winning a dubious decision that raised eyebrows last October in Saudi Arabia.
Before that, Fury labored to a tenth-round TKO against his friend, 39-year-old journeyman Dereck Chisora, in December 2022.
Legitimizing the Cut
“The cut was legit, it’s unfortunate, and it happens. He spars with an open head guard, and he got caught with a shot, whether it was a shot, an uppercut, or an elbow,” continued Oliver, sounding to some fans like he’s carrying the water for Fury.
“It’s just one of those unfortunate things. May 18th might be a little soon if I’m totally honest,” said Oliver.
There’s now a $10 million penalty clause in the rescheduled May 18th fight, which puts pressure on Fury not to turn up lame again because he’ll need to forfeit a lot of dough if he can’t make it to the starting line for his clash against Usyk.
