Fury video shows black eye as promoter Warren denies injury before Joshua fight

Tyson Fury has set off another round of injury talk after a video he posted on Friday appeared to show a mark on the left side of his face, little more than a month before he is due to face Anthony Joshua.

The two British heavyweights are scheduled to meet on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, where more than 70,000 fans are expected.

In the clip, Fury, 38, sends good wishes to his friend and sparring partner Kevin Lerena, who fights Scotland's Scott Forrest on Saturday night. He signs off by saying the "Gypsy King" is behind the "Lerena Army" and tells South African viewers to watch on SuperSport. Fans were quick to notice the mark on the left side of his face.

Where the injury talk started

The questions began a day earlier, when former heavyweight champion Frank Bruno said on the Fight Your Corner podcast that he had heard whispers of an injury that could stop Fury going into the fight with Joshua.

Bruno, speaking to former cruiserweight Tony Bellew, said someone had told him in a gym about the injury, adding that having that on your head is not nice.

Bellew was not convinced. He said Fury plays up to the camera and called him a master of mind games.

Fury's promoter Frank Warren has since shut the speculation down. Speaking at a press conference for the Joshua Buatsi versus Willy Hutchinson rematch, he told The Sun the claims were "nonsense, nonsense, absolute nonsense," and said Fury is doing well.

Warren said he had not spoken to his fighter in about a week so as not to disturb his camp in Miami. He said the last time they talked, Fury told him he wished the fight were tomorrow, and that he is focused and eager for it.

Warren also said the presence of Deontay Wilder on the undercard, where he faces former cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, will not affect Fury.

Why it matters

For Nigerian boxing fans, the bout is one of the biggest the sport can offer, and any hint that it could fall through is unwelcome news. Fury came out of retirement this year, beating Arslanbek Makhmudov on points in London in April and stopping Poland's Mariusz Wach in July.

His father, John Fury, has already voiced worries about the fight. In the BBC Sport series Rivals: Fury v Joshua, recorded before the bout was announced, he said he hopes it never happens, because the loser will not be able to cope with the criticism.

Promoter Eddie Hearn sees it differently, calling it possibly the biggest sporting event Britain has ever staged. The documentary is due on BBC iPlayer from Tuesday, November 10.

What happens next: Fury continues training in Miami, and the fight remains on course for December 11 in Cardiff unless his camp says otherwise.