Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 chaos, coin toss controversy, beard length drama, stare-off taunts

Where there is Tyson Fury, there is usually drama. Saturday night brings an early Christmas cracker from Saudi Arabia where the Wythenshawe-born boxer takes on Oleksandr Usyk for a second time.

The 36-year-old has kept ominously quiet - relatively speaking - during the build up to this bout, coming off the back of his first professional defeat. There is a lot less to play for this time around.

This is no unification match with just three belts up for grabs and Fury has lost his ‘undefeated’ status. Usyk is being painted as the favourite by most bookmakers with his stamina backed to outlast the brute force of Fury, who is due to weigh in heavier than his 18st 10lbs from the first fight.

There has, meanwhile, been controversy just 24 hours before the first bell.

‘Coin toss’ could decide new official

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, says he has suggested the resolution of a coin toss to decide which back-up official is brought in to replace an original judge, who has been taken ill pre-fight.

Two replacement options have been placed on standby with both camps wanting alternate persons to get the nod. The two camps have been in deadlock over the matter but Warren is confident an agreement can be reached in time for the ring walks.

“One of the judges has taken ill of the three that were decided upon,” Warren told Sky Sports. “There are two standby judges, both of them are flying in and we've got to decide which one it's going to be.

“We want one of them and the other camp wants the other, so I've suggested we spin a coin. This will get sorted. Use a bit of common sense, and actually both camps are very, very professional and know what they have to do.”

Stare-off gets heated

Both fighters conducted a lengthy stare-off that lasted more than 10 minutes following Thursday’s press conference. Fury gave very brief answers during his Q&A, having arrived at the event with a live band and singers.

He started taunting Usyk during the traditional stare-off as both men refused to back down. Usyk retaliated which prompted Fury to increase his verbals before the two were separated by their camps.

Earlier in the night, Fury insisted: “All my career... [I've joked]. This time I'm serious and I'm going to do some damage.”

Beard length ‘questions’

Sky Sports reports that Usyk’s camp enquired about whether the length of Fury’s beard was within regulation parameters. Facial hair has to be within a certain threshold with stubble potentially worsening cuts on an opponent.

In this case, Usyk’s team had apparently queried whether Fury's beard would cushion the blow of punches. Officials sided with Fury and said the Brit was not obliged to shave off his beard.

Fury’s camp have supposedly also asked for clarification on what constitutes a low blow and whether this would be determined on the level of the shorts belt. Anything below the navel - or belly button - is widely seen as illegal, but the question infers that Fury will be aiming for body shots.