TYSON FURY has claimed Josh Taylor will be his southpaw sparring partner in training to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
The pair of unbeaten champions have publicly agreed to face each other in the first ever four-belt heavyweight unification bout on April 29.
It leaves just six weeks to prepare for the historic fight and Fury is yet to link up with trainer Sugarhill Steward or recruit sparring partners.
But first on his list of lefties is unbeaten ex-undisputed super-lightweight world champion Taylor.
Fury – known to make unbelievable statements in the build-up to fights – said on Instagram: “Second session of the day finished. Brutalised, second session of the day.
“I’ve got some big, big, big, big news to announce. I’m about to bring in my sparring partner Josh ‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor.
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“He’s coming in next week to start sparring for the bitch Usyk. Cannot wait.
“Training camp is going fantastic, I cannot remember in recent memory having a better camp. Absolutely on fire.”
Fury, 34, weighed 18st 8lb last December when he beat Derek Chisora in ten rounds of their trilogy bout.
So the 6ft 9in Gypsy King towers over 5ft 10in Taylor, 32, who formerly held all four belts in the 10st division, EIGHT STONE below.
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Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has maintained the undisputed title decider is ON for Wembley.
But his opposite number Alex Krassyuk voiced his own fears and revealed Usyk, 36, will ONLY accept a 70/30 split if the bout takes places next month.
Krassyuk told Sky Sports: “Usyk was very clear in his message, ‘April 29th, I accept 70/30.’
“So all the conditions that were accepted by Usyk are due only for April 29th.
“And (manager) Egis Klimas yesterday came out on Twitter saying that if it moves just by one day, then it’s going to be 50/50 again.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk