Rather than cancel or reschedule the event, the unified champion held a news conference and offered one-to-one interviews instead.

Usyk’s team have been critical of Fury and questioned the legitimacy of the cut the Morecambe fighter picked up in sparring. Usyk’s trainer Egis Klimas said Fury was a coward., external

But there were no such comments thrown towards ‘The Gypsy King’ during a news conference where Usyk, Klimas and Krassyuk were all relatively subdued.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Usyk said he had just finished a sparring session when he was told by his team of Fury’s injury.

“I just smiled,” he added. “And said ‘OK – I will finish my training and I will do my work stretching my back’.”

Cutting a relaxed figure in yellow tinted sunglasses, Usyk was not as animated as he often is. Questions were relayed to him in Ukrainian by an interpreter but he replied in English.

The winner in Riyadh will become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 and the first in the four-belt era.

But Usyk said he is not focussed on whether Fury will be in the opposite corner.

“I don’t think about it. It’s versus Tyson or not versus Tyson,” he said. “For me now it doesn’t matter. I just want an undisputed fight.”