Tyson Fury’s proposed rematch with Deontay Wilder could be delayed as a result of the cuts he suffered in beating Otto Wallin on points in Las Vegas, says promoter Frank Warren.
Fury, 31, boxed for over nine rounds with cuts around his right eye and was later taken to hospital for surgery.
Warren said Fury’s recovery timescale could impact the Wilder bout, which has a provisional date of 22 February.
“If it doesn’t heal well the fight may have to be pushed back,” Warren said.
“Hopefully that will not be the case. It depends how it heals, if it’s OK it won’t be a problem.”
He added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s not just the fight, it’s the training and sparring. He has to be 100% right.”
‘Worst cuts I’ve seen’
The February rematch – following last December’s thrilling draw in Los Angeles – looked ambitious anyway given WBC world heavyweight champion Wilder is only due to fight Luis Ortiz in late November.
But the injuries Wallin inflicted by virtue of a third-round punch at the T-Mobile Arena almost led to a stoppage that would have ruined plans of a repeat fixture.
The ringside doctor twice called up to Fury’s corner to check the damage and, as a legal punch had drawn the blood, Wallin would have landed a huge upset by virtue of a technical stoppage.
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Steve Bunce said the cuts inflicted “were some of the worst I have seen in boxing”.
Former world middleweight champion Andy Lee believes a delay to a Wilder bout is inevitable and told 5 Live: “We’ll see how the cut cleans up, but it’s hard to see him fighting in February. That’s one that will take six to eight months to heal.”
Speaking from hospital in Las Vegas, Warren added: “We are waiting for a plastic surgeon to come and stitch his eye.
“The cut hampered his performance but at the end of the day he prevailed. He will have micro-surgery on the cuts – one above the eye and one on the eye-lid. It gave Wallin a lot of heart.”
Fury’s father calls for change
Fury did no post-fight media as a result of his injuries, leaving trainer Ben Davison to field difficult questions as a result of comments made by his father.
Fury’s father John, who has not been able to travel to the US for fights due to previous convictions, said his son looked “weak as a kitten”, adding the display was “the worst I have seen from Tyson”.
“It looked like he had nothing after round two,” he told BT Sport.
“At 18 stone 1, I’ve warned him and warned him. He is a 19-stone fighter.
“If I had my way, the lot [Tyson’s team] would be gone. If they keep that team that will be his career [gone].”
Criticism of Fury seems harsh given the nature of cuts that clearly forced him to change his style and seek a quick knockout given he was aware of the concern ringside doctors were showing.
His trainer Davison, who has worked with him since late 2017, told BBC Sport: “If he was as weak as a kitten he wouldn’t have been able to do 12 rounds like that.
“It was his engine, experience, strength and size that was the difference. I am happy.
“John is Tyson’s dad so you have to respect him. Tyson was feeling prepared. You can’t do anything about a bad cut.”
