Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury slammed over ‘painful’ press conference

Some disgruntled boxing fans called Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s press conference “painful” and “pointless.”

The heavyweight fighters faced off at London’s Guildhall on Wednesday in preparation for their highly anticipated rematch on December 21.

In May, Usyk defeated British great Fury in an exciting undisputed heavyweight bout, with the Ukrainian winning by split decision.

This was Fury’s first loss since his 2008 professional debut, but The Gypsy King has an opportunity to put things right when he faces Usyk in Riyadh next month.

Fireworks were expected when the pair faced off at the launch press conference on Wednesday but the event turned out to be a rather subdued affair.

Fury came out to Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’ while Usyk – resembling the lead character in the video game Hitman -entered the arena to ‘Ave Maria’.

The pair answered questions about the fight from host Dev Sahni but soon began to offer short responses, though that is not uncommon for Usyk, who only began learning English a few years ago.

At one point Usyk, wearing a black suit and leather gloves, opened a briefcase he brought on stage and asked Fury to sign two pictures from their first fight.

Later the pair faced off on stage, with Fury breaking the stalemate by tickling Usyk in the ribs.

‘I felt sorry for Dev [Sahni] at the end there, it was like being on a bad date,’ ex- boxer and TNT Sports pundit Matthew Macklin said after the press conference finished.

Several fans were underwhelmed by the scenes, with one writing on YouTube: ‘What a pointless press conference.’

‘Worst press conference I’ve ever seen,’ another wrote, while one viewer said: ‘This has got to be the weirdest press conference ever.’

While fans wanted to hear more from Fury and Usyk, they did both discuss the fight, which has been branded the biggest heavyweight bout in the 21st century.

Victory for Usyk would enhance his reputation as an all-time great and potentially send Fury, 36, into retirement.

But if Fury is victorious he will once again be regarded as the best heavyweight on the planet and will surely be set for a huge showdown with either Daniel Dubois or Anthony Joshua following their rematch, which could take place in February.

‘It’s been four and half years since I was the underdog, in the first Deontay Wilder fight,’ Fury said.

‘I’m looking forward to a fantastic fight, Oleksandr won the first fight fair and square.

‘I’ll be a bit more focussed, no lack of complacency and there’s nothing drastic I have to change. I will be victorious.

‘Last time it wasn’t my time to win or god would have given me victory. I’m very happy Usyk got the decision, that was meant to be, and we’re going to find out what is meant to be on 21 December.

‘I believe it’s my time this time and all things that happen, positive or negative, are lessons and we must learn from these things as humans, boxers, fathers and husbands.

‘What we know is to go out there and knock each other out, and to put on a show for the paying customer.

‘I hope you guys will enjoy this fight as much as I will.’

Asked what he needs to change to reverse the result, Fury added: ‘I have to be a little bit more focused and smart to get the victory.

‘My rematches with people, I always end up knocking them out, so I’m envisaging something similar against Usyk.

‘All I can do is train well, eat well, go to bed early, listen to the people around me and the rest is in god’s hands.’

Usyk, meanwhile, said: ‘I’m happy to be here. What is my motivation? I don’t have motivation, only my regime, my concentration, this is my motivation.’

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