Tyson Fury ‘flies to Brisbane to agree next fight’ with unbeaten world champ in Australia | Boxing | Sport

Tyson Fury is said to have flown to Brisbane on Thursday to discuss a potential summer fight with IBF world cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. The Gypsy King was in Melbourne this week to support his good friend Joseph Parker, who picked up his second straight win with a brutal first round stoppage of Faiga Opelu.

Fury was absent for the bout but is now keen to make the most of his trip Down Under by investigating the prospect of a summer fight in Australia.

The WBC heavyweight king is looking to get back on the ropes after a five-month layoff and recently challenged promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum to find him an opponent.

But it now looks like Fury is taking matters into his own hands as he targets a summer clash with Opetaia in Australia.

According to The Sydney Morning HeraldFury flew from Melbourne to Brisbane on Thursday to hold talks over a break with Opetaia that could pack Suncorp Stadium later in the year.

Opetaia is a serious contender having won all 22 of his professional tournaments, 17 of which have come via knockout.

He had to overcome a broken jaw to beat Mairis Briedis on the scorecards in Australia last July to win the IBF cruiserweight title.

The main sticking point, however, is that Opetaia would have to bulk up to secure the fight with Fury, which he is apparently willing to do.

Fellow Australian Demsey McKean, a natural heavyweight, is also looking to fight the Gypsy King.

Despite this, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis has confirmed that talks are ongoing with Fury, meaning a fight could very well happen this summer.

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

“It’s all about money and you couldn’t ask for a better home fight.

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

“He pushes heavy weights every day of the week because cruiserweight is too small for him, they’re not strong enough. It’s all out war when he and Justis are [Huni] spar.”

Fury was in action in December when he crushed old rival Dereck Chisora ​​in a grueling one-sided contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He has since attempted to set up a world heavyweight championship fight with Oleksandr Usyk but negotiations have fallen through.

The highly anticipated bout is expected to be rescheduled later in the year but for now the Gypsy King is looking to get back into action to avoid possible ring rust ahead of the biggest fight of his career with Usyk.