Klitschko vs Fury: Fight goes ahead after 'spongy' ring row
Saturday 28 November 2015 22:20, UK
Saturday night's heavyweight world title showdown between Wladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury will go ahead as planned following a row over the ring.
There were suggestions that the bout could be called off because the surface of the ring at the ESPRIT arena in Dusseldorf was considered too soft by Fury and his team.
However, following two hours of talks, Klitschko agreed that a layer of foam beneath the canvas would be removed and the fight will therefore take place as scheduled.
Fury's agent Asif Vali said: "It's on after two hours, it's fight time. There were three layers of foam and one is being removed for health and safety reasons."
Fury and his team visited the ESPRIT arena on Saturday morning as part of the Briton's last-minute preparations for his challenge against WBA Super, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Klitschko, which is exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.
However, the Manchester fighter found the ring to be too spongy in certain areas, with his feet sinking into the surface.
He felt the thick layer of spongy material restricted his movement and was a deliberate attempt by Klitschko to gain the upper hand.
Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy told Sky Sports News HQ on Saturday morning: "We are being told it's not completely finished yet so hopefully they will get their act together and make it so that it is up to health and safety conditions, because as it is, the canvas is too soft and Tyson's feet were sinking into it and that really is a health and safety issue.
"So we have addressed that. We have spoken to [Klitschko's promoter] Tom Loeffler, we have told him our concerns after seeing the preliminary canvas and he said that he is going to get it finished and then we can all meet over there and make sure it is right.
"We just need some common sense, because it is in both fighters' interest and the public's interest that the surface is right. Otherwise you won't get the performance that we are all looking to see.
"Let's make it a level playing field and let's get this on."
Tyson's uncle and trainer Peter Fury - also speaking before the row was resolved - said: "You have got guys [who weigh] 112 kilograms sinking in the canvas. These are super-heavyweights so the canvas needs to be a hard surface for that reason. When they are moving quick, anything can happen.
"I am just very thankful that we have gone over this morning and highlighted the problem so they have got plenty of time to remedy it and fix it. It has to be changed.
"We are just after a standard ring. The ring we have seen is super soft, it would be ridiculous. It would affect Tyson and ultimately Wladimir as well. Both sides have to be happy with it.
"Hopefully they will have ripped that soft sponge out, put the correct stuff on it and squeezed it over."
Wladimir Klitschko vs Tyson Fury, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday, is now available to order via your Sky remote and online.
