Oleksandr Usyk camp unloads over Tyson Fury grooming act

After Tyson Fury’s camp had a win over a “lucky charm”, the champ has fired back with a demand over the Brit’s personal habits.

Tyson Fury is at the centre of a huge world title rematch row and it all centres on a personal grooming move made by the Gypsy King.

Champion Oleksandr Usyk has accused Fury of “grossly violating” strict rules on the length of facial hair and demanded he gets his razor out, The Sun reports.

The storm erupted after Fury won his battle to ban the Ukrainian from having a “lucky” crucifix in his corner for Sunday’s (AEDT) $360 million heavyweight Saudi showdown.

UFC 311: MAKHACHEV VS TSARUKYAN 2 | SUN 20 JAN | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Fury, who weighed in at a massive 132kg — a full 25kg heavier than his rival — is sporting a full, bushy beard after refusing to shave for 12 weeks.

But Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, fumed: “The beard rule is being grossly violated.

“The WBC rules clearly say, ‘A boxer may espouse a trimmed beard as long as the hair thickness does not cushion or affect the impact or trajectory of punches, or cause cuts or abrasions to his rival’.

“So, Tyson’s beard has to be trimmed. We will push it further.”

Oleksandr Usyk (left) and Tyson Fury pose after their weigh-in on Saturday. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The facial hair was unmistakeable. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Fury’s matchmaker, Frank Warren, refused to back down.

The Queensberry Promotions chief blasted: “He has a beard and there have been a lot of fighters over the years who have fought with beards and that’s it.”

When SunSport quizzed the British Boxing Board of Control, which has trained and supports the Middle East chiefs in charge of the WBC, WBA and WBO clash, they said Fury must trim his beard if Usyk complained at Friday’s rules meeting.

Yet WBC supremo Mauricio Sulaiman insisted: “The matter was discussed and the final decision is with the local commission.

“We do not feel Fury gets any advantage. We do not think there will be a problem.”

Usyk and Fury face off ahead of the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed World Heavyweight Title fight. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Fury shows off the beard in a pre-fight portrait. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Fury was totally clean shaven for the first fight, back in May.

Fury, 36, won an earlier squabble when undefeated Usyk, 37, was told he could not have his cherished monk’s crucifix in his corner.

He kissed it for inspiration during his split-decision triumph in May’s first Riyadh tear-up.

But Warren insisted: “If there’s anything other than water that goes to the fighter’s lips then the inspector will take it away.

“If anything is seen to be not correct it will be dealt with.”

Fury was clean shaven for their first fight in May. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

SunSport understands Usyk’s team have accepted the banning of the cross but are digging in their heels over Beardgate.

Fury’s weight is the heaviest of his career, a hefty 8.6 kgs heavier than the first fight, while Usyk’s weight is just over a kilogram up on their last bout.

There was another argument around the judges after Miami’s Fernando Barbosa withdrew ill.

The warring parties were at loggerheads over whether American Steve Weisfeld or Panama’s Ignacio Robles — who jetted in as emergency cover — would sit alongside Patrick Morley (US) and Puerto Rican Gerardo Martinez.

Warren, who wanted Robles, said: “I’ve suggested we toss a coin.”

He added: “There’s going to be a war tomorrow.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Oleksandr Usyk camp unloads over Tyson Fury grooming act