- Tyson Fury lost for the second time to Oleksandr Usyk, last night
- Fury dismissed Usyk in interview several years ago for being “a foreigner in a westernised world”
- Fury stormed out of the ring instead of conducting post-match interview after defeat
A Tyson Fury interview from a few years ago has resurfaced, after the former heavyweight champion of the world once again lost to the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk.
Just like in May, the heavyweight clash between Fury and Usyk went the distance, with the judges scorecards being necessary to seperate the two after 12 rounds. And once again, Usyk reigned supreme, doing the double over Fury just like he did over the Mancunian’s British counterpart Anthony Joshua in 2021 and 2022.
Following the bout in Saudi Arabia, the defeated Fury left the ring before he could be interviewed, as is customary after major boxing bouts. But it wasn’t any interview last night, or lack thereof, that proved to be a major source of embarrassment for Fury, but rather one from a few years ago.
The former WBC Heavyweight Champion was asked about Usyk several years ago before the Ukrainian had stepped foot in the heavyweight division. Then an undefeated cruiserweight, Usyk was yet to make the step up and was not taken seriously by Fury.
“He’s a small cruiserweight. Foreigner, doesn’t speak good English,” Fury began when asked about facing the Cat, “No one’s really interested in him, he’s not setting anything alight. I want the big fights that people are interested in and that ain’t one of them.”
The interviewer then probes further, asking if Usyk defeating Anthony Joshua would make any difference, to which an unmoved Fury responds, “still, it wouldn’t be a big fight. He’s still a foreigner in a westernised world. The belts are back in the west and they’re gonna stay there. The heavyweight champion should be from Britain or America and nowhere else, because maybe in Ukraine he might be a big star but Britain or America ain’t interested in boxing in Ukraine and that’s the way it is. The heavyweight champion of the world needs to be in the west and that’s how it goes.”
Tyson Fury a few years ago refusing to fight Usyk
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) December 22, 2024
“I want the big fights and that ain’t one of them. He’s a foreigner in a westernised world. The heavyweight champion should be from Britain or America and nowhere else.”
Usyk has now beaten him twicepic.twitter.com/jRkeCQfRVc
The video of the interview, conducted prior to Usyk’s first bout against Anthony Joshua in September, 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, has been viewed over three million times so far on X.
Usyk defeated Fury by unanimous decision in last night’s rematch, having originally won their first bout by split decision in May of this year. Fury has since complained about the judge’s decisions, however it does not appear a trilogy bout between him and Usyk is on the cards. A potential, eagerly anticipated superfight between Fury and Anthony Joshua has been touted by several reporters and fans in the aftermath of Fury’s latest defeat, although the fight has been rumoured for years without ever being booked, so perhaps don’t hold your breath for that one happening any time soon.
Perhaps Fury could eye a return to the WWE ring for his next money spinning venture?
