Usyk's team insisted that Fury shave before the fight, according to media reports.

This is reported by the American sports television network ESPN.

According to the network, Usyk's team made a corresponding appeal to the Middle Eastern Professional Boxing Commission on December 20.

In May, Fury was clean-shaven when he lost to Usyk. However, he grew a thick beard for the rematch.

The WBC championship rules state that a boxer may have a trimmed beard, provided that the thickness of facial hair does not soften or affect the trajectory of punches. Additionally, hair must not pose a risk to the opponent.

Fury's manager, Spencer Brown, stated that the boxer will not shave, as he has "boxed many times with a beard."

"Usyk himself publicly stated that Tyson's beard is not an issue. There is no law or rule in boxing that says you cannot fight with a beard," he noted.

According to Brown, if Usyk had a beard, Fury's team would not have protested.

WBC President Mauricio Suleiman told ESPN that a check showed Fury's beard does not create "any problems." Meanwhile, sources from the network reported that the Middle Eastern Professional Boxing Commission was planning to ask Fury to trim his beard.

More about the rematch

On May 19, Alexander Usyk won the title of undisputed world champion in the heavyweight division by collecting all four championship belts in his fight against boxer Tyson Fury. The match lasted all 12 rounds. During the bout, Fury landed more punches, but Usyk was more accurate. The judges awarded the victory to Usyk by split decision.

The Brit immediately called for a rematch after the fight. At the post-fight press conference, he insisted that “he won the fight” and claimed that the judges sided with Usyk allegedly because of the war in Ukraine. The promoter of the Ukrainian boxer, Alexander Krasyuk, emphasized that they will honor the two-fight agreement.

The rematch is scheduled to take place on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the first time, an artificial intelligence will be observing the boxers during the match.