Jai Opetaia’s team have denied rumours that the cruiserweight world champion dropped Tyson Fury ahead of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
Opetaia, a fearsome and tricky southpaw was brought in to spar WBC champion, Fury in his Saudi Arabia training base, seen by many as the closest style to Usyk, who he faces for the undisputed heavyweight championship three weeks on Saturday in Riyadh.
The 28-year-old, who is set to defend his IBF crown against Mairis Briedis in a rematch on the undercard, has now left Fury’s training camp reportedly after sparring just five rounds and returned to his native Australia.
Rumours circulated on social media that the Sydney man was relieved of his duties after dropping ‘The Gypsy King’, although his team have denied this to be the case and according to Australian media, he has returned home due to a lack of orthodox sparring for Briedis in Saudi Arabia.
A statement from Tasman Fighters read: “Jai Opetaia has recently returned from Saudi Arabia where he sparred and trained with Tyson Fury.
“They were fantastic, competitive rounds and an incredible experience for Jai.
“However any talk of either boxer being dropped is not true.
“Jai is now back in Australia finalising his preparation to defend his world title and cannot wait to do so in Saudi Arabia.”
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Fury, however has retained three main sparring partners as he continues preparation for WBA, WBO and IBF titlist, Usyk, with the pair set to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis and the first in the four-belt era.
Rising heavyweight prospect, Moses Itauma, former world title challenger, Kevin Lerena and undefeated Canadian Alexis Barriere were all pictured in an Instagram post on Sunday alongside Fury.
The 35-year-old reunited with Francis Ngannou on Sunday at an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time since he climbed off the canvas to edge past the ex-UFC heavyweight champion by split decision in October.
Ngannou has also moved his training base to the Middle East to prepare for his second professional fight against Anthony Joshua on March 8 also in Riyadh.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority who has been given the resources to bring major events to the region, announced at the Joshua-Ngannou press conference his intention to match the winner with the victor of Fury-Usyk.
