THE absence of Chris Eubank Jnr and Tyson Furyโs enormous beard were the highlights of the final press conference to promote Frank Warrenโs sold-out November 29 โBad Bloodโ show.
โYou know the old story, weโve been here 10,000 times,โ Warren sighed about yet another no-show from Billy Joe Saunders’ opponent. โEubank Jnr is not here so I told Billy Joe not to bother. Theyโll do their head-to-head tomorrow [at the weight-in], hopefully. One day heโll get professional about this.โ
The promoter shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, like an unruly teenagerโs tortured parent, when asked when the Eubanks decided they would not attend.
โYesterday,โ he said. โBut letโs move on from that… He says itโs because he has already done one press conference this week [Monday] so he shouldnโt have to do another. I donโt worry about it anymore.โ
The keenly attended media event โ staged in the cinema of the Imperial War Museum โ went on regardless, of course, and with Eubank nor Saunders in sight, talk turned to Tyson Furyโs rather fluffy chin.
โItโs the new look now,โ said Tysonโs cheery opponent, Dereck Chisora. โIf mine could grow like that Iโd have one. Iโve been trying to grow mine for four years so I gave up.โ
Both Chisora and Warren said they would bring up Furyโs extra layer to the Board at tomorrowโs rule meeting. It is likely that the unbeaten heavyweight โ who outscored Chisora in July 2011 โ will have to shave it off, or at least give it a substantial trim, before they step into the ring.
โMaybe I can get sponsorship from Gillette to shave my beard and pubes at the same time,โ Fury joked. โThey can put it on YouTube.โ
If Furyโs 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 Fridayโs weigh-in.
โIโve worked very hard; Itโs definitely the hardest Iโve worked,โ he said before explaining his chilled out exterior. โItโs sold out [tickets for the bill] so we donโt have to do no more selling, we donโt have to say weโre going to kill each other.โ
Chisora shared the happy vibe.
โListen, this is it,โ he said, almost singing. โThereโs just two days left until the big fella and I rock and roll.โ
EXCLUSIVE RONNIE DAVIES INTERVIEW in this weekโs BOXING NEWS
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