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Klitschko vs Fury: Tyson Fury unhappy with 'spongy' ring

Tyson Fury is unhappy with the surface of the boxing ring ahead of his showdown with Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf tonight.
Fury and his team visited the Esprit Arena this morning as part of the Briton's last-minute preparations for his challenge against WBA Super, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Klitschko, which is exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.

However, the Manchester fighter found the ring to be too spongy in certain areas with his feet sinking into the surface. He felt the thick layer of spongy material restricted his movement and wants it changed before the fight.

There are also health and safety issues that need to be addressed as a result, but Fury's camp expect these to be resolved when they return to the venue this afternoon.

Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy told Sky Sports News HQ: "We are being told it's not completely finished yet so hopefully they will get their act together and make it so that it is up to health and safety conditions, because as it is the canvas is too soft and Tyson's feet were sinking into it and that really is a health and safety issue.  

"So we have addressed that. We have spoken to [Klitschko's promoter] Tom Loeffler, we have told him our concerns after seeing the preliminary canvas and he said that he is going to get it finished and then we can all meet over there and make sure it is right
"And us as a team, we are going to ask that John Rees, the chairman of the [British] board, is going to come over there as well, so that we can get it sorted there and then and make sure there are no further problems.

Tyson Fury and his camp want the surface of the Esprit Arena ring changed

"We just need some common sense, because it is in both fighters' interest and the public's interest that the surface is right. Otherwise you won't get the performance that we are all looking to see.

"Let's make it a level playing field and let's get this on."
Tyson's uncle and trainer Peter Fury said: "You have got guys [who weigh] 112 kilograms sinking in the canvas. These are super-heavyweights so the canvas needs to be a hard surface for that reason. When they are moving quick anything can happen.

"I am just very thankful that we have gone over this morning and highlighted the problem so they have got plenty of time to remedy it and fix it. It has to be changed.

"We are just after a standard ring. The ring we have seen is super soft, it would be ridiculous. It would affect Tyson and ultimately Wladimir as well. Both sides have to be happy with it.
"Hopefully they will have ripped that soft sponge out, put the correct stuff on it and squeezed it over."
Coutesy of SKY SPORTS