Before the fighters even meet in the ring, Tyson Fury’s beard is stealing the spotlight in the lead-up to his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. In just a few hours, the Ukrainian champion will defend his titles in a fight that has the boxing world on edge. This much-anticipated bout takes place on a stacked Riyadh Season card, seven months after Usyk secured a split-decision victory to become the century’s first undisputed heavyweight champion. Now, both fighters are ready to captivate fans across the globe once again.

However, an unexpected controversy has emerged, drawing attention away from the fight itself. Tyson Fury has arrived in Saudi Arabia with his entourage—and his full, flowing beard. Photographs of Fury’s signature look have sparked debate, with Team Usyk objecting to the beard’s presence in the ring. They argue that the fallen champion should trim it before the fight. Unsurprisingly, Team Fury disagrees, creating a pre-fight tussle that has added an extra layer of intrigue.

Tyson Fury and the beard debate

Boxing journalist Chris McKenna tweeted that Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has raised objections about Fury’s beard. Citing WBC regulations, Krassyuk argues that the beard’s length could provide an unfair advantage. “Usyk promoter Alex Krassyuk continuing to argue that Fury should trim his beard, citing WBC rules about how the length of the beard cannot act as a cushion or alter the trajectory of shots,” read McKenna’s post, adding that the team will continue to ‘push’ for their case.

Dan Rafael added his viewpoints: “The length of Fury’s beard is indeed absurd, and it should be trimmed.” However, Frank Warren, whose Queensberry promotes Tyson Fury, refuses to budge. “He has a beard, and there have been a lot of fighters over the years who’ve fought with beards, and that’s it,” the veteran promoter reportedly told Sky Sports.

Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, also defended his fighter and referenced Artur Beterbiev. The Russian-Canadian champion competed—and won—with a full beard during his light heavyweight clash with Dmitry Bivol just two months ago. Brown noted that the issue was addressed during the pre-fight rules meeting and emphasized that no specific regulations prohibit fighting with a beard.

“Simply put, if Usyk had a beard, we would have no issue. This is not a fashion show; it’s boxing,” Spencer Brown mentioned.

What about the champion and key stakeholders?

As for Oleksandr Usyk, the Olympic gold medalist remains unfazed by the debate. When asked about Fury’s beard, Usyk responded with characteristic calmness, “For me, it doesn’t matter.”

Mike Coppinger, who had earlier updated Spencer Brown’s statement, shared an important message from Mauricio Sulaiman, the WBC president whose belt is at stake today. He said, “The rules state that the local commission and WBC supervisor are to inspect. At the rules meeting I conferred with the commission. I did inspect Fury, and there is no issue from our side.”

For context, amateur boxing organizations like the International Boxing Association (IBA) enforce stricter regulations regarding facial hair. They do not permit boxers with beards longer than 10 centimeters or covering the neck to compete.

The debate over Fury’s beard has certainly added an unexpected twist to the buildup of this high-stakes rematch. But in the end, it remains to be seen whether it will have any impact on the fight itself or if it’s just a sideshow to the main event.

What’s your take? Should a beard matter in a sport as intense and physical as boxing?