Former world champion Anthony Crolla has delivered a stinging critique of Tyson Fury’s corner during his initial bout with Oleksandr Usyk, yet he sees no issue with John Fury being present for the upcoming rematch.
Usyk, aged 37, handed Fury his first professional defeat in May, clinching a narrow split-decision win in Riyadh. The two titans are set to resolve their rivalry on December 21 in a highly anticipated rematch.
After Fury’s loss earlier this year, several boxing greats, including Ricky Hatton, have suggested Fury should consider removing his father, John, from his corner for the forthcoming clash. With just over a week until the heavyweights face off once more, Crolla has joined the conversation regarding the corner chaos in their first encounter, describing it as a ‘shambles’.
In an interview with Razed, Crolla remarked: “There’s no denying last time that the corner of Tyson was a bit of shambles. You had a lot of great boxing brains in there but there’s no denying that the corner was a shambles. There might be one voice this time in the corner with SugarHill Steward who is the head coach, Andy Lee who has a great brain, and John Fury who knows his son very well.”
He added: “When it’s time for Tyson to sit down in the corner, it might be time for one clear voice, and I believe that’s how it should be. I think Tyson will win the rematch, and I have always said I believe he is the best heavyweight in the world.” Speculation is rife about whether Fury will have his father by his side in Riyadh. Boxing aficionado Crolla weighs in, saying there’s no issue with John in the corner, provided he follows certain guidelines.
“It’s a hard one because Tyson likes his dad’s opinion and big John got a lot of stick but means well,” Crolla remarked. “Emotions took over and that’s natural where I’ve seen it before and it’s hard to be emotionally attached to someone, but you have to separate it. John will probably admit he got a little bit involved and the build-up to the fight with the famous headbutt didn’t help Tyson whatsoever.”
He added, “I’ve always got on with John but the incident with the headbutt made a few people turn towards Usyk who was fighting Tyson Fury, and Tyson may have thought a lot of people who should be backing me are against me. I don’t think there is anything wrong with John Fury being in the corner but if he is, I believe this time he will be under strict instructions to not be voicing his opinion over the head coach or Andy Lee.”
Fury has dismissed any notion of shaking up his team following recent speculation. In an interview with Paul Dempsey, ahead of the launch of the new boxing game ‘Undisputed,’ Fury confidently stated: “Not much time,” and elaborated on his decision to maintain the status quo, saying, “I know what I’ve got to do, nothing drastic. People can say ‘I want to change trainers or I’ll blame it on me conditioning coach or I’ll blame it on the cook or I’ll blame it on the mouse next door.’ Same team, same everything. I know what I’ve got to do.”
He also reflected on his previous fight, adding, “I thought I won the fight last time. I give him, me boxing all my life and watching boxing me whole career, I give him rounds eight, nine and ten, and round nine was a 10-8. So that’s what I give him out of the fight, but obviously the judges saw it a bit different, couple of them did. One of them had me winning. That’s what it was. It was as close as it can be.”
