TYSON FURY suffered the gruesome sparring gash that delayed the undisputed decider after a saucy prank backfired.
The fun-loving 35-year-old WBC champ was in the final two weeks of training for a February 17 showdown with Oleksandr Usyk when bloody disaster struck.
YouTube @iFL TVAgron Smakici has opened up on splitting Tyson Fury’s eye[/caption]
X formerly Twitter / @MichaelBensonnThe Croatian caught Fury with his elbow while the pair were sparring[/caption]
X @QueensburyFury was left with a huge gash above his eye that caused his bout with Oleksandr Usyk to be postponed[/caption]
The Gypsy King was doing practice rounds with respected 33-year-old southpaw Agron Smakici in Saudi Arabia when he playfully thrust his crotch at the Croatian’s backside.
The former MMA fighter – who was a crucial trainer parter for Anthony Joshua in his camps for Usyk and Otto Wallin – felt disrespected by the humping and knuckled down extra hard.
And then a fiery exchange ended with Smakici landing a left hook on the undefeated giant and an accidental elbow following through and landing and requiring 14 stitches.
Fury shared a gruesome snap of the cut online after the fact.
While talented leftie Smakici was gutted about his role in delaying the first undisputed decider since 1999 until May 18.
But he and Fury parted on good terms, with the 20-2 ace agreeing to go and help his best friend Joseph Parker prepare for his March 8 shootout with Zhilei Zhang.
Smakici told SunSport: “He did it but it was a joke and I didn’t take it seriously,
“I was not angry, because he was laughing, he is funny. He is a comedian.
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“Yes it made me a little more serious, it made me want to show him what I had.
“But it was a clean punch and the elbow was not on purpose, I was just trying to give him better rounds and to show him that I deserved respect.
“I got that respect in the sparring and afterwards he said ‘great sparring, accidents happening, everything before was great’.
“Crazy things like this happen in boxing.”
Fury has been approached for comment.
Instagram @agron_smakiciSmakici has previously sparred with Anthony Joshua[/caption]
GettyThe 33-year-old is a well respected fighter with a 20-2-0 record[/caption]
EPAFury will now face Oleksandr Usyk on May 18[/caption]