Boxing promotor Frank Warren says Oleksandr Usyk will not be allowed to bring a specific item along with him to the ring for his upcoming rematch against Tyson Fury.
The Ukrainian, 37, defeated the 'Gypsy King', 36, via split decision back in May and was crowned the division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
Fury looked to be in control of the fight and almost stopped Usyk in the sixth round. However, his undefeated opponent landed a clean shot on Fury’s nose in the eighth and dominated the ninth.
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Just a day away from the highly-anticipated rematch, Fury and Usyk are locked in a dispute over a replacement official.
Fernando Barbosa was named as one of the three judges set to score the fight, but he has not travelled to Saudi Arabia due to illness.
Although officials Steve Weisfeld and Ignacio Robles have flown over, it appears the two boxers cannot agree on which judge should take Barbosa's spot.
With the fight currently up in the air, Warren has since come out with an update on ring rules after Usyk would kiss his cross necklace in his corner after each round in the first fight.
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There was even speculation that the cross was, in fact, an inhaler, which proved to be false.
To avoid rumours being spread, the promoter has made it clear that water will be the only thing that touches the lips of both fighters in the upcoming fight.
He told Sky Sports News: "After the fight there was a lot of speculation, they weren't sure what it was. We just cut through it all.
"If there's anything that is used other than water that goes to the fighter's lips, then the inspector will take it away and hold it and if anything is seen to be not correct then they'll deal with it, test it, whatever that may be, what they have to do."
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Meanwhile, orthodox Christian Usyk has explained: "This cross was a present from the chief monk in one of the Greek monasteries, where I go. This cross gives me strength and leads me to victory. I feel the love of the God of the Father from Paradise.
''I see myself as a man who sins, a sinner and I need help to overcome my sins. What were my sins in that fight? The main sin was that I hit him in the face."
How to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in the UK
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To watch Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk go head to head, there are three options:
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1.) You can watch the rematch on DAZN with no subscription required. All you need to do is buy the PPV for £24.99 and you will automatically get a seven-day free trial which you can later cancel to stop the subscription from rolling over. You’ll be able to stream the match on a range of devices including PlayStation, Chromecast, and Smart TV. If you do decide to roll over your free trial, you’ll move onto a monthly plan costing £24.99 per month and get access to over 150 fights every year, with the option to cancel with 30 days’ notice.
2.) You can also tune in live on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491). The event is priced at £24.95 for Sky customers in the UK and €27.95 if you’re based in the Republic of Ireland. Sadly Sky does not offer free trials, but Sky subscribers can book the match here and if you’re new to Sky, you can sign up here.
3.) Finally, you can watch the fight on TNT Sports with a Prime Video subscription (free for the first month then £8.99/ month), provided you have discovery+ (from £3.99/ month) as part of your subscription. If you don't fancy shelling out, you can simply cancel your subscription after the first month.
Topics: Boxing, Sport, Oleksandr Usyk
Anish Vij