USYK IS A BLOOMIN' BAD MAN!

Fury changes his tune and heaps praise on his big-fight opponent

- CHRIS MCKENNA 

TYSON FURY has changed his tune on Oleksandr Usyk by claiming the Ukrainian is a "bad man" who only a "mug" would underestimate.

The Gypsy King puts his WBC heavyweight title on the line against the WBO, WBA and IBF champion on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.

It is the first time the undisputed crown has been contested in the sport's glamour division since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield in 1999.

But Fury has spent most of the last 18 months dismissing Usyk's credentials despite the 37-year-old being an Olympic gold medallist, undisputed cruiserweight king and three belt holder at heavyweight.

However, now the Brit is hailing his rival ahead of their blockbuster bout in Riyadh.