Oleksandr Usyk has made it clear he still loves Tyson Fury, despite their fight being delayed.
Boxing fans from all over the world had been excited to see the pair face each other on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
However, with Fury sustaining damage to his eye in training, their bout has now been pushed back to May 18 instead.
Both men have now had to clear their schedules as a result, while fans are frustrated by the delay.
Boxing news: Oleksandr Usyk has opened up after his fight with Tyson Fury was delayed
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Yet Usyk, speaking to Sky Sports, has made it clear he still holds Fury in high regard.
"Of course, more," he said when asked if he 'loved' Fury even more than before.
"Why? Because it's the man who has my fourth belt. It's the man who helped me become famous a lot.
"Because we, all people, must love friends, [people who are] not friends, acquaintances, all people.
"It's great when you are polite, not dirty."
Usyk could have been forgiven for feeling frustrated by the delay.
He, like Fury, has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure he's in the best shape possible for the fight.
Yet Usyk isn't deterred and insists he's confident of beating Fury when they finally step into the ring together.
"I didn't even have any irritation inside. No frustration," said the 37-year-old, who has won all 21 of his career fights so far.
"I just looked back at all the work I've done - getting up early, jogging, swimming, sparring, the amount of all it, and I thought to myself: 'Wow, that's some good work I did.'
"Then I thought of how much more training I will do and how much good work I will do.
"So when, with God's help, I will finish all this work, I'll be able to box three Tyson Furys."
Usyk had been training in Spain before the postponement.
Speaking to The Mirror, the Ukrainian lamented missing the birth of his daughter in his homeland last Thursday.
"I sacrificed all the dates we used to spend with my family," Usyk revealed.
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"Christmas, New Year, my birthday, my son's birthday, the birthday of my second son and the birth of my daughter.
"I was supposed to be somewhere around my wife, not in the room, but walking around waiting for her to give birth to my daughter."
Fury, meanwhile, has jetted back to the UK.
The Gypsy King showed off his black eye on social media, while also revealing he's 'gone back to reality'.
Fury is, however, excited to get back to training so he can put Usyk to the sword in three months' time.
Boxing news: Oleksandr Usyk feels confident ahead of his fight with Tyson Fury
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“Back to reality today," he said. “Back to the good old Morecambe Bay weather – rain, wind, cold.
“Back to the school runs, back to real life stuff.
“I can’t wait to get back into the training camp in Saudi and absolutely smash it. Come on Tuesday, bring it!”
