John Fury calls out 'stupid' Simon Jordan after headbutt controversy
The ensuing fallout from John Fury's headbutt after a clash with a member of Oleksandr Usyk's entourage was called out by figures including Simon Jordan.
John Fury has responded to criticism from TalkSport personality Simon Jordan after he called him out for his behavior in the build-up to son Tyson Fury's upcoming fight. The controversial ex-Crystal Palace chairman described the veteran former fighter's actions as 'ugly and uncouth' after he was embroiled in a fracas with Oleksandr Usyk's team.
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With 'The Gypsy King' currently preparing for an era-defining contest versus the Ukrainian, his dad whipped up some major consternation backstage after allegedly headbutting someone from Usyk's entourage. This came just five days prior to the unified world heavyweight championship bout - the first in the weight division since 2000.
The former bare-knuckle boxer did apologise for his antics, which came about when the two rival camps came into contact in a hotel in Riyadh. Both fighters were preparing to give interviews to the world's press, with the actions of Fury Sr. leaving him with a significant gash to his head, with images emerging of him sporting a bloodied forehead.
As his son chases sporting immortality on May 18, it remains to be seen what impact this fraught incident will have on the ferocity of events in the ring. Either way, the 59-year-old's conduct was called out by the aforementioned Jordan, as well as former boxer Carl Froch.
Reacting to the fallout, Fury Sr. responded: "Them people are not worth even mentioning. Stand [here] and slate me.They all talk behind the camera miles away, but they won't face the big JF face-to-face. If they do, they're stupid men, because that is where their last stand will be. I don't care who they are. I'm the king of the bare-knuckle men and I can't be beat on them streets."
Speaking in his column for the Daily Mail, Jordan has said: "In the build-up to the fight, Fury's Dad, John, head-butted a member of the Usyk camp, notably the smallest member! It's ugly and uncouth but boxing is an ugly and uncouth business at times.
"People can have their confected outrage about it but this is what the Furys want to create. They want this everyone's against us mentality and the more the narrative ramps up towards dissatisfaction at Fury's attitude and the way he seems to operate, the more they double down on it. The fact is they like and thrive in this environment, they like the hostility, aggression, outrage and disapproval.
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"Fury senior is like some demented, super-size-me version of a cross between American showman P.T. Barnham and Uncle Fester from the Adams Family. He comes into town and it's roll up, roll up let's watch the horror show. This is the carnival of horrors with John Fury at the front of it all for some reason."
Meanwhile, Froch also called out his acts, while speaking Froch on Fighting, saying: "The first press day for the biggest fight in boxing history, Fury vs Usyk, they’re coming together for all the belts... What’s my lasting memory of the show? Big John Fury, the fighting man, sticks the nut on some small, skinny kid from Team Usyk, drops the nut straight on his face, faceplants him, cuts his own face open, bruises the other kid and makes a mockery of boxing.
"It’s disgusting and disgraceful what he’s done. He should be embarrassed. It’s not acceptable. I don’t know why he’s done it. You’ve got Team Usyk one side of the room, chanting ‘Usyk’, as you would. The other side of the room you have Tyson Fury fans and his team.
Froch added: "Nobody is calling it out, but that’s why I’m here. John Fury is a disgrace. What he’s doing is bringing boxing into disrepute. It’s disgusting and terrible that people watching this fight, there’ll be young kids, trying to get into the sport. The attention it’s bringing to the sport. You’ve got John Fury, big idiot, headbutting somebody from the other team and thinking it’s OK."
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