Oleksandr Usyk has revealed his mother wanted to 'kill' Tyson Fury after their face-off in London last year.
The two men are currently in the spotlight ahead of Saturday night's fight, with the duo hoping to win all four belts and become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
With the bout originally being due to take place in December, a launch press conference was held in London.
At that face-off, Fury shoved Usyk. Now, the Ukrainian has revealed his mother was livid with the Briton's behaviour and wanted to 'kill' him.
Oleksandr Usyk has revealed his mother wanted to 'kill' Tyson Fury last year
PA
“Mama is angry all the time, a little bit," the 37-year-old told Boxing King Media.
“‘Hey, why did this man push you? What did this man say to you?’ I said: ‘Mum, it’s a show, it’s just a show. Please relax.’
“[She said:] ‘Listen, if this man pushes you, I’ll kill [him].’”
Fury also mocked Usyk at the press event.
However, he's since changed his tune on the Ukrainian by complimenting him and everything he's achieved during the course of his career so far.
Fury's clash with Usyk was also postponed for a second time in February.
The Gypsy King was forced to withdraw due to a serious eye injury, having accidentally been cut in sparring.
And Usyk has admitted he feared they'd never be able to fight, while also insisting he doesn't think Fury got cut on purpose.
"I was worried about Tyson Fury, that there might be injuries and that our fight might not take place," he told TNT Sports.
"If he was performing, I think he deserves an Oscar."
He continued: "It has to happen because we have a contract. It's a problem only for Tyson Fury.
"Tyson Fury signed a contract, so he has to fight."
Fury, meanwhile, has insisted he isn't concerned about his eye - and also revealed he wouldn't want boxing chiefs to stop the fight if the wound was to open up again.
“I’m not concerned about the eye," the 35-year-old told the Telegraph.
“If it gets cut, the viewing figures will go up, there will be blood everywhere and I won’t let them stop the fight.
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Oleksandr Usyk was shoved by Tyson Fury at a press conference in London last year
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“I’m looking to do a demolition job on him. I just want to beat the silly sausage.
"Yes, Usyk is fast, talented, he out-boxed a big heavyweight in Anthony Joshua twice but AJ is one-dimensional, one-paced, and I could outbox him with a blindfold on. I’m just different.”
He continued: Look, this is an important fight.
“But again... I hate to say it, because the boxing fans and the boxing purists and all them w*****s don’t want to hear it, but why do you think I box? For the money.
“If anybody in this building, or anybody in professional boxing, tells me they don’t do this game for money, they’re lying to you, and I speak from the heart.
Tyson Fury is unbothered by his eye injury ahead of his clash with Oleksandr Usyk
"I do it for the dough. The bigger the deal, the better.
"I’m a prize-fighting pugilist specialist, that’s what I do.
"I fight for the prize, whether it be gold bars, gold coins, cash, transfers, cars – whatever you want to pay me, pay me in bags of sand for all I care.
"As long as I can make a drink on it, deal done."
