Tyson Fury's father, John, has clarified alarming comments about his son being in 'decline'.
The Gypsy King is currently preparing for his showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, with the two men primed to lock horns in Saudi Arabia on February 17.
Yet Fury, rather than Usyk, is the man who arguably has the bigger point to prove.
Many fans were left disappointed by his showing during his victory over Francis Ngannou at the end of October.
Boxing news: John Fury has clarified alarming comments made about Tyson Fury ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight
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While Fury won via split decision he was knocked down in round three of the fight.
It was a moment that stunned the world and the 35-year-old's father, John, recently said he'd noticed a 'decline' in his son.
"For my money, his last three fights, I have seen a bit of decline," he said, via Freebets.com.
"Not a decline in ability but a decline in strength, power and physical condition."
Yet John has now clarified his comments and insisted he was referring to the way his son prepares for fights, instead of his ability.
He told Seconds Out: "I never said my son was in decline because he's not.
"It's the people around him who ain't up to much. His training's in decline and his camp's in a bigger decline.
"It's not a camp, it's a circus."
Opening up on Fury's win over Ngannou, John continued: "I saw him in the gym in Saudi, watched him spar three or four rounds with a couple of kids - I knew then it was gonna be a hard night's work.
"I thought, 'What have you been doing?' I was alarmed, I still am.
"Unless you're gonna get the eye of the tiger back and go back to the old ways and get the hunger back - sweat, blood, s*** and tears.
"Because Usyk's doing that - sweat, blood, s**t and tears.
"And he's got disciplined, professional, great people around him, and I don't think Tyson has that.
"I really don't."
Meanwhile, former boxing champion Barry McGuigan recently addressed the comments from John.
And he admitted he was surprised to hear the 59-year-old so negative and critical.
“Why would his father say that?" he stated.
"He can’t change styles. Tyson is tall, rangy, fast hands, good fighter.
"Chin is suspect as we saw with Francis Ngannou.
"Because of the performance against Ngannou, this fight [with Usyk] is a much harder fight.”
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Boxing news: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are due to face each other on February 17
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Fury and Usyk are both unbeaten as their bout creeps closer.
The Briton has won 34 of his 35 career fights, drawing the other against Deontay Wilder in 2018.
Usyk, meanwhile, has won all 21 of his fights - with his last victory coming against Daniel Dubois back in August.
Fury and his Ukrainian opponent had been due to lock horns on December 23.
Yet the pair agreed to postpone their fight with the Gypsy King needing more time to recover from his narrow win over Ngannou.
