Tyson Fury has drafted in Jai Opetaia as a sparring partner ahead of his showdown with Oleksandr Usyk in February.
The Gypsy King is currently hard at work as he looks to win that blockbuster heavyweight showdown.
Fury had initially hoped to fight Fury on December 23.
However, the two men agreed to delay their fight until February 17 - with the Gypsy King needing more time following his narrow victory over Francis Ngannou at the end of October.
Boxing news: Tyson Fury is preparing for his fight with Oleksandr Usyk
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Fury's fight with Usyk has the makings of a classic.
And boxing agent Sam Jones has now revealed Opetaia will be sparring with Fury as he looks to ensure he has the best preparations possible.
Jones told Betway Sports: "He’s going to go straight into camp with Tyson Fury after his fight which is very important to Tyson Fury.
"He’s the best possible sparring partner and I believe Jai Opetaia beats Oleksandr Usyk so it’s a great addition."
Opetaia was recently stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title.
Boxing chiefs believe the 28-year-old went against the organisation's requirements to fight the number one challenger.
Yet Jones has condemned that decision and defended the Australian.
"I just think it’s an embarrassing decision because all parties were okay with it, but it was just them," the agent added.
"I know it is part of their rules but it’s like the Ring Magazine not putting the title on the line for Sunny Edwards vs Bam Rodriguez the other week.
"I know it’s the rules but there has to be some common sense used, just like Jai Opetaia.
"He is the best cruiserweight in the world in many people’s eyes.
"The IBF should give him a little bit of leeway. He’s not going to not go for the biggest payday of his career because the IBF said they can’t.
"They have also left it very late with two or three weeks before the fight.
"I think Jai Opetaia has took a stand there and it’s an embarrassing decision by the IBF.
"It’s just part of their rules but there has to be an element of common sense which there isn’t a lot of in boxing.
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Boxing news: Tyson Fury is set to spar with Jai Opetaia ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight
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"But he’s still the man in the division, he’s got his Ring Magazine belt.
"It obviously takes a bit of the gloss off the fight because it’s not for the full world title, but everyone sees Jai Opetaia as the man."
Meanwhile, boxing promoter Frank Warren has also slammed the decision to strip Opetaia of his title.
"It's very short-sighted of the IBF if they go down this road," Warren, who promotes the Aussie, said.
"Everybody on board, including the number one [Briedis], were all happy for it to take place.
Boxing news: Tyson Fury is set to fight Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17
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"But, you know what, the fight is going on.
"Everybody knows who he [Opetaia] is, they know he's considered to be the best at his weight out there so we'll just get on with it and the fight will happen.
"It's too big a fight not to happen and it's too big an opportunity for the fighters not to fight.
"It [the IBF's decision] is ridiculous really."
