Usyk warns Tyson Fury and dad John his secret army of gun-and-knife trained soldiers won’t stand for another assault

Ukraine’s 37-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion had to hold his team back at Monday’s launch event in Riyadh after 59-year-old former fighter John headbutted a young member of Usyk’s staff.

Oleksandr Usyk has warned Tyson Fury and his dad that his army will not stand for assaultCredit: @usykka

John headbutted a young member of Usyk’s staff on MondayCredit: @usykka

Marvellously it was the handlebar-moustached social media bloke who scuttled away bloodied and embarrassed after little Stanislav Stepchuk barely flinched.

Despite the ugly scenes – that threatened to stain the undisputed decider in the super-strict kingdom – the £100m fight was never in jeopardy.

But the 35-year-old WBC Gypsy King and his loudmouth bunch will be if they dare poke the beast again.

“If they want to destabilise my team, it’s not possible,” the gap-toothed father-of-four said about the woeful fracas.

“Because I don’t just have professional coaches and trainers, I have professional soldiers.

“The security were calling ‘back Team Usyk, back!’

“But my team is very good at wanting to fight, not boxing, street fighting, shooting, knives, wrestling.

“But I said ‘hey, hey guys, get back please’.

“We had to behave properly.

“The situation doesn’t matter to me, it’s just more motivation for my team.

“It’s disappointing that it happened at an event like this, because it is about discipline.

“But I am not disappointed by my team, they are disappointed because I pulled them back and stopped them from fighting.

“They wanted to go, they were looking over at me waiting for the signal to go.

“They were waiting for the thumbs up but I gave them the thumbs down.

“‘Back, back please,” I said. And they were not happy”.

John Fury screamed about living for “blood and guts and horror” but in the 15 years he has been in the spotlight nobody has seen him throw a meaningful punch.

He has thrust his crotch and threatened to “bum” YouTuber prankster KSI and beaten up a TV screen and perspex box when trying to help mild-mannered son Tommy flog more of the novelty ‘fight’ shows.

Some of Usyk’s team, by stark contrast, have come straight off the frontline fighting back Vladimir Putin’s vicious invasion – and they don’t whisper a word about it.

“For me it doesn’t matter,” he said “It’s just bad behaviour from Tyson’s team.

“We are professional athletes, not street fighters and this is a big event for our people, the UK and Ukraine.

“My friend did not bleed because he is a powerful guy. He is a street guy. Did you see the video? He was like a Pitbull, ruff!

“He’s only my friend, it’s a secret who the soldiers are in my team.”

John definitely helped Tommy flog dud bouts but the first undisputed heavyweight decider in 25 years – between two undefeated masters of the sport – does not need a slapstick act trying to boost social media hits.

If he wants to learn about helping his two sons understand the great honour and discipline involved in boxing, he should listen to the rival half of age and double his intelligence.

“Both sons came to the gym after one of my sessions because my family lives close by,” he said about his Valencia camp.

“My sons come to the gym and give me power and motivation.

“Before I had sons, when I was young, I knew when I had them they could help me with water and hand me my gumshield and tell me ‘hey, come on father, you can do it’”.

Usyk is flanked by compatriots protecting him and he wants to inspire them and all the people back home as they try to fend off Putin’s sickening siege.

Victory in Saudi Arabia will give him the biggest platform in sport to celebrate his nation, highlight their plight and shine an even brighter light on Putin’s war crimes, but he’s too modest to be driven by it.

“I really appreciate the support from my fans and Ukrainian soldiers,” he said. “It’s a big motivation.

“Maybe I motivate my people, maybe.”

No maybe about it.