Tyson Fury's ex-sparring partner demands apology over infamous training cut
Former two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has been issued with a stern demand for an apology from his old sparring partner, Agron Smakici, as the Brit gears up for his highly anticipated return to the ring this April. The call-out revisits a controversial training incident that had significant repercussions for Fury's career.
Background to the sparring controversy
In the lead-up to his planned undisputed heavyweight title clash with Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, Fury enlisted Smakici as a sparring partner. However, just weeks before the scheduled fight, Fury was forced to withdraw after sustaining a cut during training, an injury that Smakici has now publicly addressed. The cut exacerbated a previous battle scar from Otto Wallin in 2019, which has plagued Fury ever since.
In a recent interview with World Boxing News, Smakici disputed claims that the damage was caused by an elbow, insisting it resulted from a legitimate punch. He recounted the session, stating, "The memories that we have from sparring. Where I was controlling the sparring from the first round, the second round. He put my head down and pushed my head so when I picked up my head, I started to throw punches even harder. I rocked him with a couple of shots, and the last shot was with a cut, and they say that it was with an elbow, but it wasn’t, it was a real punch."
Fury's career trajectory and comeback plans
Following the delayed bout, Fury eventually faced Usyk in May 2024, losing via split decision, and suffered another points defeat in their rematch seven months later. Shortly after, the 37-year-old announced his retirement, only to make a dramatic U-turn. He is now set to return on April 11 against Russian powerhouse Arslanbek Makhmudov, aiming to reclaim glory in the heavyweight division.
Reacting to his comeback, Fury expressed enthusiasm, saying, "I told you there was a big announcement coming today, baby! I done it. Got it over the line. I’m absolutely psyched, ready today to fight. Come on! The Mac is back. April, UK. I’ve been away four years, I’ve been away for a while but I’m back now."
Smakici's challenge and professional prospects
In light of Fury's return, Smakici has expressed interest in settling their unfinished business in a professional fight, stating he received an inquiry from Sky Sports about a potential bout. He emphasised, "I got the call from Sky Sports, I’m not sure, and he asked me if I am interested in having a fight with Fury, and I said yes, of course. We’ve got something that we didn’t finish, and he owes me an apology."
However, a clash between the pair appears unlikely, given Smakici's recent form. The Croatian, with a professional record of 21-3, lost his last fight in October against Artem Suslenkov and faced a tough defeat to heavyweight star Agit Kabayel in 2023, positioning him outside the top tier of the division.
As Fury focuses on his comeback against Makhmudov, this public demand for an apology adds a personal layer to his preparations, highlighting the lingering tensions from past training sessions that continue to resonate in the boxing world.
