Fury in talks with Opetaia as pair sighted in Brisbane

 

Tyson Fury’s next opponent could be Jai Opetaia after the Australian manager confirmed he was in talks with Gypsy King’s side for a fight at Suncorp Stadium this year.

Fury, 34, was at ringside for Joseph Parker’s first-round demolition of Faiga Opelu at Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, with the WBC champion entertaining a fight Down Under.

The British star landed in Brisbane on Thursday after revealing he was scouting potential locations for a heavyweight blockbuster, after it emerged his team had contacted Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean.

And now Opetaiai manager Mick Francis has told the Sydney Morning Herald he is in talks with the Gypsy King camp over a fight over the Australian summer.

“It’s a legitimate fight,” Francis said. “Tyson Fury will not be eliminated and Jai Opetaia will not be eliminated. This is a fight that will go the distance, it would be an absolute war.

“It’s all about value for money and you couldn’t wish for a better domestic fight.

“Jai has nothing to prove in the heavyweight division and he would take the fight in a heartbeat.

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“He trains with heavyweights every day of the week because heavyweights are too small for him, they are not strong enough. It’s absolute war when he and Justis argue.

Opetaia overcame a broken jaw to win the IBF world heavyweight title last year and Francis insists his man will have no problem with the move up the weight class.

“If Jai had a chance, he would step into the ring at 98-99kg,” Francis said.

“He’s not a little guy, not a little heavyweight. We’re talking about putting Australian boxing on the map with one of the biggest promotions this country has ever seen. People all over the world would watch this.

Fury was also pictured enjoying the sights of Brisbane alongside Parker and Opetaia on Thursday night, sporting a Queensland shirt ahead of their Home State clash with New South Wales next week.