John Fury was caught in the middle of an extremely heated exchange between his son’s entourage and Oleksandr Usyk’s ahead of Tyson’s unification title fight this weekend, during which he was spotted headbutting a member of the opposing team.
The clip and images of John Fury‘s bleeding forehead quickly began circulating all over the internet, and now the boxing patriarch has come out to explain what led to the incident and why he headbutted Usyk faithful, Stanislav Stepchuk.
As can be seen in the original footage, it appears as though the only cause for the altercation was Stepchuk and co. chanting ‘Usyk!’ in support of the Ukrainian boxer as the Fury family and their followers were doing the same.
Cut to a few moments later and that’s exactly what you’ll find on John Fury’s face – a small gash after he decided to headbutt the considerably younger and smaller man from Usyk’s corner.
‼️ Full, close-up video of John Fury's headbutt clash with Oleksandr Usyk's team which left him bleeding today…
The moments leading up to and including the John Fury headbutt.
Fury was insistent that it was the opponents that started the confrontation, despite admitting he was already chanting Tyson‘s name, and that was seemingly what sparked not only an intense face-off between another member of Usyk’s team but was, apparently, enough to justify headbutting him too.
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As he explains to Sky Sports, “he disrespected my son, the greatest heavyweight to ever wear a pair of boxing gloves, coming out with all that rubbish. You know, he’s in my face, trying to be clever.
“[They were] coming into my space chanting… nobody was bothering with them. They stepped closer and closer, so at the end of the day I’m a warrior – that’s what we do, we’re fighting people”.
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He goes on to argue that the clash wasn’t even about the fight and that tensions weren’t necessarily that high prior to this flashpoint but that is simply normal behaviour in his world, quipping that’s “seven nights a week for me, we’re not interested.”
🗣️ 'They came into my space!’
Tyson Fury’s father John Fury gives his perspective of the clash between himself and Oleksandr Usyk’s camp in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/uXACHAdhHm
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 13, 2024
He’s been heavily criticised for the attack but here’s John Fury explaining why he decided to headbutt Usyk’s team member.
Speaking to iFL TV, Fury Sr. did admit that “emotions are running high” and that he was always going “stand up for my son”, labelling Stepchuk a “little idiot”.
As for his opposite number, who also appeared on camera with a cut on his forehead, he argued that Usyk’s team “didn’t offend him” and were simply chanting in support. As for the WBO, WBA (Super) and IBF title-holder himself, he labelled John Fury’s behaviour as “bipolar” and simply “bad behaviour”.
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John Fury has ultimately gone on to say sorry, telling Seconds Out: “Sincere apologies to everybody involved. It’s just the way we are. Emotions and tensions are running high. He was a very disrespectful fella,” adding, “If you come close in a fighting man’s space, you’re gonna cop for something.
Tyson Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad this Saturday, 18 May, with the latter looking to add the WBC belt to his collection and the Manc boxer looking to declare himself the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Who do you reckon is going to take it?
Featured Images — Sky Sports/Serge Lapin (via Michael Benson on X)
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Manchester City complete the signing of highly-rated forward Omar Marmoush
Danny Jones
Manchester City have completed their third signing of the January transfer window as Omar Marmoush is officially a blue.
Joining Man City from Eintracht Frankfurt on a deal said to be worth around £59 million, he arrives at the Etihad just 48 hours after new defensive duo Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were also revealed.
Agreeing to a four-and-a-half-year contract, Marmoush was the second-highest scorer in this current Bundesliga campaign (15), boasting 20 goals and 14 assists across all competitions already, so City fans can certainly expect plenty of attacking threat.
The fast and dynamic forward has mainly been deployed as a striker for Frankfurt but can play as inserted winger on either flank, giving Pep Guardiola‘s side another option.
Donning one of football’s most iconic shirts with the number seven (which has been vacant ever since Joao Cancelo left the club), the 25-year-old landed in Manchester with plenty of excitement as City were by no means the only Premier League outfit looking to secure his services.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool were said to be monitoring his situation as one of the most sought-after targets in Europe – the latter obviously rumoured to have expressed a vested interest given the impending departure of their talisman, Mo Salah.
‘The Egyptian King’ has been one of if not the best player in the league this season with 18 goals and a baker’s dozen assists so far but informed the leaders in this year’s title race that this would be his last year at the club.
Those sentimental enough amongst the red half of Merseyside were naturally hoping his compatriot Marmoush might make an ideal replacement and follow in the 32-year-old’s footsteps for the years to come, but the blue half of Manchester seem to have led the chase right from the off.
Nevertheless, Salah has more than left his mark on English football and his fellow national teammate has already been given the perfect nickname.
Speaking in his first interview as a City player, Marmoush said: “Representing my country at a big club like this was something I always dreamed of. [Now] my dreams are becoming a reality of being [the first Egyptian] at Manchester City and I hope I can keep up this level.
“The Premier League is for us in Egypt the biggest league and the most followed league because of my team-mates like Mo Salah and other Egyptian players that have played in the Premier League.
“Most of the players growing up, our dream is to be here and that is why it makes me so happy that I am here to reach this beautiful league.”
Elsewhere at the club, a loan deal for Kyle Walker to join AC Milan with an option to buy also looks to be all but done. Happy with the transfer business done so far, Blues?
The 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season has been delayed
Danny Jones
The next Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season has been officially delayed by nearly three weeks.
Announced on Tuesday, 21 January, the decision has been taken in an effort to help promote the Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC), the proximity of which is rather close to the national union championship competition.
With sporting bodies also trying to nurture a growing interest in female rugby, the start of the next PWR season will be pushed back not only to give players more time to rest but in an effort to drive a larger audience to the WRWC as well, the final of which is being played here in England.
The hope is that it will also better the Red Roses’ chances of winning the international tournament in turn – fingers firmly crossed.
Get excited 🤩
The PWR 2025-26 Season will officially kick off on Saturday 25th October PLUS the PWR Cup will return 🙌
The conclusion of the international tournament is taking place at Twickenham Stadium in London on 27 September, just days before the 2025/26 Premiership season was due to start.
Local side Sale Sharks are sadly at the bottom of the table this current campaign, which kicked off on 5 October 2024 and ends this March, but with eyes already on the WRWC the focus for lots of players in the division will no doubt already be shifting.
Not only is the domestic women’s rugby season being delayed by nearly three whole weeks – meaning the first games won’t happen until 25 October – but this comes after the current schedule of fixtures was also reduced with player recovery in mind ahead of the World Cup.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the PWR’s operations manager, Amy Walmsley, said: “The Rugby World Cup is a generational moment for women’s rugby and will create a huge opportunity for both PWR and our clubs to grow and celebrate with their fans.
“The optimum time between the Rugby World Cup Final and our first league match will ensure we capitalise on what we already know will be the biggest and best World Cup ever, while also ensuring player welfare with adequate rest across the season.”
The stats back it up too as 2024 saw numerous milestones for the women’s game; in addition to record crowds at the Olympics, last year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations was the most viewed on record with 8.1 million fans tuning in, not to mention an increased interest among 18-24-year-olds.
You can find the run-down of the Sale Sharks Women fixtures below:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗜𝗻
All of our fixtures for the 24/25 season are locked in. Let's bring that Northern roar to every game #SharksFamily 🦈
As for the final of the Premiership Women’s Rugby, the date has been reverted to its usual window in June, which should also fit within what congestion remains.
Nevertheless, with the Women’s Six Nations in late April and England – who have won all but one of their last 51 games – set to begin their World Cup on 22 August, the margins are still going to be somewhat fine if they are to head into the tournament in the best shape possible.
With the tickets selling extremely well, the expectation is that the Rugby World Cup final break is set to break the world record for the best-attended women’s rugby fixture in history.
In the meantime, Greater Manchester is gearing up for the men’s action as the Six Nations gets underway at the end of this month and the city is boasting the perfect place to watch it.
Danny Jones -
14th May 2024 
