New excuse emerges for Tyson Fury's defeat by Oleksandr Usyk

's coach, Andy Lee, has admitted 'The Gypsy King's' preparations for the fight were disrupted due to the cut he suffered in training, which prevented him from sparring.

Fury was originally scheduled to face the Ukrainian on February 17, but a nasty . Footage emerged of the exact moment the Brit picked up the injury as he landed a hook on a sparring partner before being hit with an accidental elbow.

“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 this historic event to the ," a statement read following the postponement. While it originally looked like Fury needed several months away from the ring, the fight was rebooked and took place on May 18.

The pair finally went toe-to-toe, with Usyk going on to become the first fighter to ever beat Fury in a professional bout after the 37-year-old secured in Riyadh. With the win, the Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis back in 1999.

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According to Lee, there were concerns that the cut would reopen ahead of the first meeting with Usyk. He recently revealed that 'The Gypsy King' will be able to spar for the sequel on December 21 in Riyadh. , he said: “Fights are won and lost in the training and preparation. Because of the rearranged and rescheduled fight due to a cut, Tyson couldn’t spar in the camp. The conditioning, sharpness and your ability to concentrate to stay ready and to sustain attacks.

"When Tyson would have success in the fight, he would have to back away and look to rest to build up his energy again before mounting his next attack. In the meantime, it encouraged Usyk to come forward and gave him the emphasis to go forward to take it now because ‘I’m taking a break.’ It’ll be different because he’ll be able to spar.”

With the mouthwatering rematch just two months away, Fury has recently revealed how he will approach the heavyweight showdown with his rival the second time around. Speaking in an interview ahead of the console release of , when asked what tactic he preferred out of staying on the outside or stepping into a fighter, he answered: "I don't know. It's horses for courses isn't it? It all depends on what I need to do on the night.

"I needed to get Wilder out of there or he got me out of there and that's the type of fight it had to be. It had to be a 50/50 gunsling with the biggest puncher in history or else he'd have chinned me in round nine. Going into the rematch with Usyk, it's going to be the same. I'm going to roll the dice and it's going to be you or me... best foot forward and swing away. I've never been afraid to get knocked spark out. I've always put it on the line every time."

He added: "There's no secret! I'm going in there to knock you out because I don't think I'm going to get a decision no matter what I do. I don't think I'm going to get a decision, so I'm going to have to take it out of the judges hands like I did in America that time and I've got to get him (Usyk) out of there. Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there to see victory."