In a stunning development ahead of the highly anticipated Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury heavyweight title rematch, sources have revealed that Usyk’s team made a formal request at Friday’s rules meeting for the boxing commission to mandate that Fury trim his burly beard before stepping into the ring.
Fury’s Unruly Facial Hair Sparks Controversy
The WBC, WBA and WBO titles are on the line as the two undefeated champions prepare to collide once again, but it’s Fury’s unruly facial hair that has become an unexpected point of contention. Throughout fight week, the 36-year-old Fury has sported a thick, untamed beard, a stark contrast to his clean-shaven appearance in their first bout in May, where Usyk floored him in the 9th round en route to a split decision victory.
WBC Rules on Beards
WBC championship fight rules do allow for fighters to have a “trimmed beard” but stipulate that the facial hair thickness must not “cushion or in any way affect the impact or trajectory of punches” or “cut or abrasion to his rival.” This puts the onus on the local commission and WBC supervisor to determine if a fighter’s beard crosses the line.
“At the rules meeting I conferred to the commission. I did inspect Fury and there is no issue from our side.”
– WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman
Commission’s Response to Usyk’s Request
After reviewing the signed rules from both camps, a commission representative reportedly informed Usyk’s team on Saturday morning that they would indeed ask Fury to trim down his beard to ensure it does not provide any unfair advantages or pose any safety risks in the rematch.
Beard Controversies in Boxing History
This is hardly the first time a fighter’s facial hair has come under scrutiny. Disputes over beards in high-profile bouts have popped up periodically over the years.
- James Toney vs John Ruiz (2005): Toney’s team demanded Ruiz trim his beard pre-fight.
- GGG vs Canelo Alvarez (2017): GGG’s trainer Abel Sanchez asked the commission to have Canelo trim his beard, citing the quarter-inch limit on facial hair.
The Potential Impact
While a beard alone is unlikely to determine the outcome, the fact that Usyk’s team felt compelled to raise the issue shows how seriously they are taking any potential factor that could tip the scales in this monumental unification bout. In fights of this magnitude, with legacies and millions of dollars at stake, no detail is too small.
As the boxing world eagerly awaits to see if Fury will indeed have to take a razor to his famous facial hair, one thing is certain – the drama and mind games have already begun before a single punch has been thrown. Will a freshly-shaven Fury emerge victorious or will Usyk solidify his claim as boxing’s best, beard or no beard? Only time will tell.
