Ahead of Saturday’s undisputed heavyweight fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, the latter was seen leaving media day on crutches as fans began speculating whether the bout would be called off for a third time. Fury later returned without crutches as his father, John Fury, headbutted a member of Usyk‘s camp but came off worse as blood poured from his face.

Fury vs Usyk is expected to go ahead as planned, despite some fans expressing concern as the ‘Gypsy King’ was using crutches just five days before fight night.

“Here we go again…” one user wrote on X when seeing a video of Fury hobbling. However, most fans assumed it was an act, with one adding, “Clearly a stunt” before another wrote “The Fury’s are always a circus.”

The fight has already been rescheduled twice, and Fury will be fined £10 million if he pulls out again. But the grudge-match has now been escalated even further ahead of Saturday, after Fury’s father headbutted Usyk’s friend Stanislav Stepchuk, and a brawl almost broke out at the media day venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Both camps were chanting the name of their respective fighters, but John Fury crossed a line when he became physical and assaulted Stepchuk. There was a football atmosphere as both camps tried to deafen the other with chants, but Fury became the hooligan.

Tyson Fury was in shock when seeing his father pour with blood, but began laughing as he knows what John is capable of. “What’s happened to your head you silly —-? How have you cut yourself like that?” Tyson asked.

The incident was completely missed by Tyson, but he brushed it off as if it wasn’t a big deal. “I didn’t see anything, I was in the room doing interviews for Sky Sports, but I’m not here for all that, I’m here to get the job done and go home and rest,” Fury said.

“They do what they do, I’ve definitely seen worse than a cut on the head.” John Fury then apologised for his actions, admitting that the adrenaline took over and forced him to take action when coming within close contact with Stepchuk.

“Sincere apologies to everybody involved. It’s just the way we are, emotions and tensions are running high,” But Fury did pin some blame on Stepchuk, accusing him of starting the altercation. “He was very disrespectful. If you come close in a fighting man’s space, you’re going to cop something,” Fury added.

“What matters to me is respect for my son and he wasn’t showing any of it. He mentioned my son and that was it, so he had to have it.” An undisputed champion will be crowned on Saturday, with the main ring walks expected to begin at 11pm UK time.