Tyson Fury has accused Wladimir Klitschko of faking injury after the Ukrainian postponed their world heavyweight title bout claiming a calf problem.
Fury had been due to face Klitschko in Dusseldorf on October 24th but the bout will have to be re-scheduled following the announcement by Klitschko on Friday.
But Fury claimed he knew the 39-year-old was going to pull out, and questioned the legitimacy of the reason he gave.
Well it's official @Klitschko has pull out of the fight with an injury in his leg, it's a bit funny as I predicted this would happen!!!
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) September 25, 2015“Whatever Klitschko’s reasons are, I can tell you all now there’s no injury,” Fury said on Sky Sports News. “He either needs more time to prepare, more time to get his mind set straight, or more time to talk over what he’s going to do.
“There’s definitely no injury. Definitely, definitely not.”
The postponement is the latest misfortune to befall Fury after two bouts against David Haye were postponed in 2013, and a domestic meeting with Dereck Chisora was also delayed last year.
Klitschko’s announcement comes just two days after Fury dressed as Batman and wrestled a man dressed as The Joker during a press conference to promote the fight in London.
“Am I that intimidating? Am I that scary?” Fury added. “Batman worked a treat, and cost me a big fight again. Let’s hope he wants to do the fight again. He can’t go anywhere else. The only option is to retire like the other man, with no name (Haye). Am I going to be the man who retires people rather than fights (them). We will find out.”
Fury said he feels for his supporters as they have to unpick their travel plans with yet another fight postponed.
“All my supporters and fans – they always lose out,” he said. “It’s all right for us – we’re in training camps, we get our expenses back, but what about all the people who have travelled and paid money for the tickets.
“Things are hard. People are doing this because they’re showing support, because some of my fans can’t afford to go really, but they pushed the boat out because it’s a massive occasion, a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
“I’m wounded for all these people and this happens too much in boxing, and it’s not the fighters that pay for it, it’s the fans. We get our bits and pieces back – they don’t.”
Klitschko said he would aim to recover “as fast as possible” so that the contest can be re-arranged, with a new date expected as early as next week.
Klitschko said: “Especially after the exciting press conference last Wednesday, I was looking forward to this fight very much. I know that a lot of fans have already organised their trips to support me in Dusseldorf.
“I am so sorry that I am not able to fight on October 24th. I also apologise to my opponent, who has spent many weeks preparing for this fight. I will do my very best to recover as fast as possible.”
Klitschko sustained the injury during a training session on Wednesday and a subsequent MRI scan revealed a partial musculotendinous tear of the left calf.
Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente told the German newspaper Bild: "Next week we will make it known when the fight will be re-staged.
“We will definitely remain in Dusseldorf. The tickets which have already been sold will remain valid.”
