WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT: Laura Woods has had to pull out of hosting Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk after the DAZN host took to social media to share horrific injuries she sustained whilst on holiday
Laura Woods has been forced to pull out of hosting Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk after revealing a horror injury.
The TNT Sports and DAZN host was absent from coverage of Fury’s weigh-in against Usyk on Friday and she has now posted a heartfelt update on Friday evening revealing she is unable to attend the clash after sustaining serious injuries while on holiday with boyfriend Adam Collard.
She said on social media: “Just wanted to explain my absence from the telly for a little while, to be totally transparent and avoid any speculation.
“I had an accident last weekend at a holiday cottage. I swung a pillow and hit a large, glass lampshade hanging from the ceiling above me, which shattered and cut my face and arms, but luckily missed my eye.
“I wanted to say a couple of thank yous, firstly to Adam, for being my hero that day, acting so quickly and not leaving my side since and to his family for taking care of me in a time when I was petrified.
“To my agents Alex Maguire and Matthew Odonohue at CAA who searched for the best help immediately. To Dr Yannis Alexandrides and his wonderful medical assistant Zuzanna at 111 who opened their emergency surgery and came in on their days off, they were so gentle and have already worked magic that I didn’t think was possible to reduce the damage.
“I’ve added in the photos from then to now to show that even though it may look rough, it’s such a wonderful improvement already and I’m so grateful.
“It was a hell of a shock and I’ve been a bit sad, but I’m feeling very lucky it wasn’t worse. So a big thanks to my eyebrow too, for taking the brunt of it.
“I’m gutted I can’t cover the fight in Riyadh tomorrow anymore, but wishing the brilliant TNT boxing team all the best. Be back soon xx”
Fury will take on Usyk as the pair go at it in an undisputed bout which will unify the heavyweight division. Both men are yet to taste defeat and will put those records on the line in Saudi Arabia.
The bout will take place on Saturday night after the two men faced off. Fury shoved Usyk in the chest before the pair were separated by security at the weigh-in for the super-fight. “I’m going to knock him right out,” Fury said, using a number of expletives. I’m coming for his heart. He’s getting it tomorrow, spark out. They [his team] can all get it if they want it.”
Fury weighed in at 277lb for his controversial fight against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou last October and was 15lb lighter on the scale ahead of his mega-fight against Usyk.
“I’ve been in good shape, I’ve had two or three camps back to back. People say to me all the time ‘You’re looking skinny’ but I’m weighing the exact same on the scales I’ve been using for the last 10 years,” he said.
It’s unknown whether Woods will be in situ to present TNT Sports’ coverage of the Champions League Final at the start of next month.