OLEKSANDR USYK has been “mullering” sparring partners and making them QUIT, claims Johnny Nelson.
Usyk has assembled a squad of giant heavyweight replicas of 6ft 9in Tyson Fury in his secret Spanish training camp.
GettyTyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their fight[/caption]
But he has been smashing them so brutally that they are being sent on their way one by one – according to ex-cruiserweight champion Nelson.
He told The Mirror: “I’m hearing in the Usyk camp he’s been mullering every one of his five sparring partners and they’ve had to take it down to six rounds and the guys are pulling out.
“They are big guys, the sparring partners don’t see it going any other way. I want to see [Tyson] touch down in Saudi and know that it’s on.
“After this weekend, that’s it. It’s fight week. I want the Brit to win, but I’m just telling you what I’m hearing.
“I was there when Fury beat [Wladimir] Klitschko. Tyson is officially the best fighter in the world and he’s got people gossiping and wound up.
“If that [old] version of Fury still exists and he turns up, he beats Usyk. If he doesn’t, you’re going to see a passing of the torch.”
The pair of unbeaten champions collide on February 17 in Saudi Arabia in what is the first ever four-belt heavyweight unification.
Fury, 35, comes into the bout having been floored by ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, in October.
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He escaped with a controversial split-decision win but dad John was among those to question his son’s preperations.
And Nelson – who formerly held the WBO title – spoke out to say he heard whispers of Fury struggling in camp to fight Usyk.
He said on talkSPORT: “I’m hearing rumours of what’s happening in camp – I’m hearing that he’s getting turned over in the gym.
“So this thing about appetite when he’s in the gym, I mean, he got shown his a***.
“I’m hearing these things and I’m thinking has he taken his eye off the ball, or has time caught up with him?”
PAFormer cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson[/caption]