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Tyson Fury has said he is “absolutely devastated” after a “freak” sparring injury forced him to postpone his fight against Oleksandr Usyk, the winner of which will be crowned undisputed heavyweight champion.

The British boxer, the WBC champion, was scheduled to meet his Ukrainian opponent, who holds the WBO, WBA and IBF belts, in Riyadh, later this month.

Fight promoters, Queensberry Promotions, published a picture of Fury showing a cut over his right eye.

File photo dated 16-11-2023 of Tyson Fury. Tyson Fury's world heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk, due to take place on February 17, has been postponed after the Briton suffered a "freak cut" during a sparring session, promoter Queensberry has announced. Issue date: Friday February 2, 2024.
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Tyson Fury suffered a ‘freak cut’ during a sparring session. File pic: PA

On X, TalkSPORT boxing editor, Michael Benson, posted what was said to be “leaked” footage of the incident, in which Fury is hit by his sparring partner and promptly walks away, touching the right side of his head.

Queensberry said in a statement that a “freak cut” requiring “urgent medical attention and significant stitching” opened up above Fury’s right eye during a sparring session at his training camp in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Fury said in the same statement: “I am absolutely devastated after preparing for this fight for so long and being in such a superb condition.

“I feel bad for everyone involved in this huge event and I will work diligently towards the rescheduled date once the eye has healed.

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“I can only apologise to everyone affected.”

He said on Instagram, alongside a selfie: “Can’t help getting injured in sparring but what I can say was Usyk was in trouble. I am in fantastic shape.”

Fury sustained the cut during a sparring session with Croatian southpaw Agron Smakici, Sky Sports understands.

He had previously suffered a gaping cut around his right eye following a bloody points win over Otto Wallin in September 2019.

A Queensberry Promotions spokesperson said on X: “Whilst this is still breaking news it is clearly a massive disappointment, after the work that has been done by so many people to finally deliver the historic event to the world.

Boxing - Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk - Press Conference - HERE at Outernet, London, Britain - November 16, 2023 Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury face off during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Fury and Usyk at a pre-fight news conference in London in November. Pic: Reuters


“Once the doctors have appraised Tyson’s eye, we will have a better idea of the period of recovery needed.

The aim, Queensberry said, is to “reschedule the fight as soon as possible”.

The winner of the bout stood to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in 1999 and the first in the four-belt era.

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Police officer describes moment he was shot with crossbow – as attacker jailed

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Police officer describes moment he was shot with crossbow - as attacker jailed

A police officer has described the moment he was shot with a crossbow – as his “extremely dangerous” attacker was sentenced to nine years in jail.

Jason King, 54, fired the weapon at PC Curtis Foster after stabbing a neighbour, a man in his 60s, following an altercation in Downley, Wycombe, on 10 May last year.

PC Foster was struck in the leg by a crossbow bolt while King chased after him and his fellow unarmed officer.

Jason King armed with the crossbow chases the officer. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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Jason King armed with the crossbow chases the officer. Pic: Thames Valley Police

King stabbed his neighbour in the stomach following an altercation. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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King stabbed his neighbour in the stomach following an altercation. Pic: Thames Valley Police

“I knew something had impacted me, but my adrenaline was so high that the pain wasn’t really there,” PC Foster said.

“I first realised I was bleeding quite a lot when I could feel it running down my leg, and then I touched my leg with above my trousers, and my whole hand was red where it’d gone through my trousers already.”

PC Foster and his colleague cleared the area of civilians, while armed officers chased King to a local park.

King also fired the crossbow at a police dog but missed.

He was ordered to drop the weapon, but instead started running with it in hand towards the exit of the park to where PC Foster had escaped.

An armed officer fired one shot at King, striking him in the abdomen, to stop him.

PC Curtis Foster was hit in the leg by a crossbow bolt shot by King. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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PC Curtis Foster was hit in the leg by a crossbow bolt shot by King. Pic: Thames Valley Police

PC Foster.  Pic: Thames Valley Police
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PC Foster. Pic: Thames Valley Police

‘Covered in my blood’

As King was apprehended, paramedics and his fellow officers treated the seriously injured PC Foster.

“There was a lot of blood. My two colleagues that turned up initially on scene were covered in my blood – that’s how much blood I’d lost,” PC Foster said.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor had a feel of it and said that I was really lucky it didn’t strike an artery. It was a couple of centimetres away from hitting an artery in the back of my leg.”

PC Foster has since made a full recovery, as did the neighbour King stabbed.

King himself was taken to hospital under police supervision with potentially life-changing injuries and was discharged 10 days later, when he was arrested and taken into police custody.

King was apprehended by armed police officers in a nearby park. Pic: Thames Valley Police
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King was apprehended by armed police officers in a nearby park. Pic: Thames Valley Police

On Wednesday, King was jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court for nine years with a further three years on extended licence having previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, having an article with a blade or point, having an offensive weapon, wounding with intent and affray regarding the incident.

“Jason King will now serve a substantial prison sentence as a result of his violent actions on 10 May 2024. The community and residents of Downley are much safer for it,” said senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Nick Hind.

He added: “The courage of our officers in dealing with this incident was second to none.”

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‘Significant threat to police’

DI Hind explained that the impact the incident had in the local community couldn’t be underestimated as King was “an extremely dangerous man, who posed a significant threat to police, other emergency services and members of the community”.

A mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct was made after the police shooting of King.

The IOPC, which concluded its investigation in November, commended “everybody involved in this incident”, according to DI Hind.

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Husband’s tribute to mother-of-two killed by falling tree branch in Blackburn

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Husband's tribute to mother-of-two killed by falling tree branch in Blackburn

A mother-of-two who died after being hit by a falling tree branch on the way home from a family outing would do “everything she could for anyone”, her husband has said.

Madia Kauser, 32, was walking with her family in Witton Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 11 August when the incident happened.

She is reported to have pushed her young daughter to safety.

A joint investigation is being carried out by Lancashire Police and the Health and Safety Executive and any witnesses are being asked to come forward.

In a tribute issued by police, her husband Wasim Khan described her as the “most beautiful woman in the world” and said he feels “completely lost without her”.

He said: “My wife, a mother-of-two, a daughter, sister and a friend we lost to a tragic event that came on the way home from a family day out in the park.

“She was the most beautiful woman in the world, she did everything for our two children, she did everything she could for anyone and would bring smiles whenever she entered the room.

“She was my comfort, my partner in life and the love of my life.

“We have so many great memories, went through pain together and started a family together.

“Honestly, I feel completely lost without her and I do not know how to put into words how much I miss her face, her character and her presence. My one and only.”

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Detective Inspector Iain Czapowski said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident which has cost a young woman her life and my thoughts are with her loved ones.

“We are working closely with our colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive and with the co-operation of the council to try and establish the full circumstances of what happened, and I would like to speak to anyone with information which could assist with that.

“I am especially keen to speak to anyone who actually saw what happened on that fateful night and I would urge them to contact us.”

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Kneecap rapper greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrives at court on terror charge

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Kneecap rapper greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrives at court on terror charge

A member of rap trio Kneecap was greeted by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at court this morning, charged with allegedly supporting a proscribed terror organisation.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year.

Demonstrators waving flags and holding banners in support of the rapper greeted him with cheers as he made his way into Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The rapper is mobbed by fans and media as he arrives at court. Pics: PA
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The rapper is mobbed by fans and media as he arrives at court. Pics: PA

Supported by his Kneecap bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, it took the rapper more than a minute to enter the building as security officers worked to usher him inside through a crowd of photographers.

Fans held signs which read “Free Mo Chara”, while others waved Irish and Palestinian flags.

As the hearing got under way, O hAnnaidh confirmed his name, date of birth and address, with the court hearing an Irish language interpreter would be present.

During a previous hearing, prosecutors said the 27-year-old is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but said the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town was a “wholly different thing”.

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O hAnnaidh is yet to enter a plea to the charge.

Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters
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Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (pictured, centre) and JJ O Dochartaigh are supporting O hAnnaidh. Pic: Reuters

Who are Kneecap?

Kneecap put out their first single in 2017 and rose to wider prominence in 2024 after the release of their debut album and an eponymously titled film – a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and their fight to save the Irish language.

The film, in which the trio play themselves and co-star alongside starring Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, won the BAFTA for outstanding debut earlier this year, for director and writer Rich Peppiatt.

Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was business secretary.

They are known for songs including H.O.O.D, Fine Art, and Better Way To Live, featuring Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten.

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