THE absence of Chris Eubank Jnr and Tyson Fury’s enormous beard were the highlights of the final press conference to promote Frank Warren’s sold-out November 29 ‘Bad Blood’ show.
“You know the old story, we’ve been here 10,000 times,” Warren sighed about yet another no-show from Billy Joe Saunders’ opponent. “Eubank Jnr is not here so I told Billy Joe not to bother. They’ll do their head-to-head tomorrow [at the weight-in], hopefully. One day he’ll get professional about this.”
The promoter shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, like an unruly teenager’s tortured parent, when asked when the Eubanks decided they would not attend.
“Yesterday,” he said. “But let’s move on from that… He says it’s because he has already done one press conference this week [Monday] so he shouldn’t have to do another. I don’t worry about it anymore.”
The keenly attended media event – staged in the cinema of the Imperial War Museum – went on regardless, of course, and with Eubank nor Saunders in sight, talk turned to Tyson Fury’s rather fluffy chin.
“It’s the new look now,” said Tyson’s cheery opponent, Dereck Chisora. “If mine could grow like that I’d have one. I’ve been trying to grow mine for four years so I gave up.”
Both Chisora and Warren said they would bring up Fury’s extra layer to the Board at tomorrow’s rule meeting. It is likely that the unbeaten heavyweight – who outscored Chisora in July 2011 – will have to shave it off, or at least give it a substantial trim, before they step into the ring.
“Maybe I can get sponsorship from Gillette to shave my beard and pubes at the same time,” Fury joked. “They can put it on YouTube.”
If Fury’s face is starting to look a lot like (Father) Christmas, his body is most certainly not. Appearing svelte, the 6ft 9ins fighter revealed he hoped to be as low as 16st at Friday’s weigh-in.
“I’ve worked very hard; It’s definitely the hardest I’ve worked,” he said before explaining his chilled out exterior. “It’s sold out [tickets for the bill] so we don’t have to do no more selling, we don’t have to say we’re going to kill each other.”
Chisora shared the happy vibe.
“Listen, this is it,” he said, almost singing. “There’s just two days left until the big fella and I rock and roll.”
EXCLUSIVE RONNIE DAVIES INTERVIEW in this week’s BOXING NEWS
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