John Fury then threatens to headbutt Tony Bellew after an altercation with a member of Oleksandr Usyk’s team

John Fury has set his sights on another fiery row with former world champion Tony Bellew.

Fury Sr was in Saudi Arabia on a media day for his son Tyson Fury’s historic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18, as the ‘Gypsy King’ seeks to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

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The famous father was involved in a violent altercation on the opening day of fight week, when he headbutted Stanislav Stepchuk, a member of Usyk’s team.

And he gave his thoughts on the situation after apologizing, and even sparked a new feud with British boxing icon Bellew.

“I was telling everyone who has ears, let’s be respectful to each other,” Fury said during a media scrum.

“They were chanting Usyk, did you think we were going to stand there with our fingers in our ears doing nothing?

“I’m full of testosterone, I want to get stuck in the man. And it’s only Monday.”

He was then asked about Bellew’s prediction that Fury might struggle with Usyk, given his elite move, to which he replied: “See Tony Bellew? He’ll get a headbutt like he just received if he goes around me.”

Bellew previously fought Usyk and lost in a cruiserweight encounter in November 2018, having been left out after a devastating combination saw him beaten by the Ukrainian.

Since then, the Liverpudlian has been singing the praises of the current unified heavyweight champion, who has yet to lose in his professional career.

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What is an undisputed world champion?

In boxing, an undisputed world champion is someone who wins all four major world title belts in their division – WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO. Fury currently owns the WBC while Usyk holds the WBA, IBF and WBO. Therefore, the winner will hold all four belts as the undisputed king.

Fury Sr has already attracted attention during fight week, but was charged with emotion after confronting Usyk’s team in the hallway as they chanted their champion’s name.

It remains to be seen what drama might follow, but the veteran is no stranger to the week’s antics, having faced his other son Tommy Fury’s opponent, KSI, ahead of their October 2023 encounter.

Fury faces a big task ahead of him, with Usyk promising to be the toughest examination of his own undefeated career.

The WBC champion looks in phenomenal shape and showed off a superb physique ahead of the crucial showdown.

He will be hoping for a much more convincing performance in Riyadh than in his last outing where he was forced to return to the canvas to edge out former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.

Bellew, who has clearly irked Fury’s camp, insisted Fury will likely chase the shadows and expects Usyk to win on points.

He told Froch on Fighting: “Oleksandr Usyk, points – 100 percent. I thought AJ would beat him first time, so it has nothing to do with (me being a former opponent).

“What style does (Fury) struggle with the most? A back fighter. (Usyk) wants you to attack him. He makes fun of you.

“He will leave Fury no choice but to attack him, because he will quickly build a lead and Fury will be chasing a ghost.

“Fury is not going to run after Usyk like crazy because that would play into his hands, but there will be times when he has to apply pressure and that’s where he will fail.”

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