Boxing news: Tyson Fury linked to Joseph Parker’s historic Australian fight

Joseph Parker is coming Down Under for the biggest heavyweight bout on Australian soil in 115 years and the former world champion will arrived armed by the Gypsy King.

Joseph Parker is coming Down Under, with British champion Tyson Fury helping prepare the Kiwi boxing great for the biggest heavyweight bout on Australian soil in 115 years.

News Corp can reveal former world champion Parker has agreed terms to fight for the first time in Australia in his decorated 34-bout, 11-year professional career.

The 31-year-old has fought some of the biggest names in the heavyweight division, including Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Derek Chisora and Andy Ruiz, whom he beat in 2016 to clinch the WBO world title.

Now Parker (31-3, 21KO) will arrive in Australia to headline a pay-per-view show on Fox Sports put together by No Limit Boxing, the country’s No.1 promoters who boast Tim Tszyu in their stable.

Parker’s Down Under debut is slated for May.

Joseph Parker is the greatest heavyweight in Australasian boxing history.

No Limit are in talks with two potential opponents, Brisbane’s Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu and New Zealand’s Kiki Toa Leutele, for the biggest heavyweight showdown in Australia since Jack Johnson fought Tommy Burns at Sydney’s Rushcutters Bay in 1908.

“It’s a really big deal because Joe is a former WBO world champion,” said Dean Lonergan, Parker’s former promoter who helped bankroll his historic world-title defeat of Ruiz in Auckland in 2016.

“Joe has fought in the biggest markets in the UK and America, but this will be the first time he will be seen in Australia.

“Joe has had some big fights in the heavyweight division from Joshua to Joe Joyce and his world-title win over Andy Ruiz.

“It’s a great resume he has got.

Kiwi heavyweight icon Parker has been training overseas with his close mate ‘Gypsy King’ Fury in preparation for his Down Under debut.

“By record, he is the greatest heavyweight to come out of Australasia, so he will have particular appeal in Australia to the many Kiwi fight fans Down Under.”

Parker is currently training in Ireland and has been doing conditioning work with unbeaten heavyweight king Fury (33-0-1, 24KO).

“He isn‘t just close to Fury, he is absolutely best mates with him,” Lonergan said.

“He often stays at Tyson Fury’s house in Morecambe.

“Joe is still only a few wins away from potentially being in the mix for a world-title shot.”

Opelu (15-3-2, 11KO) is a former Australian heavyweight champion who produced a massive boilover win of Hemi Ahio (20-1, 15KO) on the undercard of the George Kambosos-Devin Haney rematch last October.

Former Australian heavyweight champion Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu is one of two opponents in the mix to fight Parker.

Leutele (8-2-2, 7KO), meanwhile, is known to local fight fans after his unanimous points loss to Australia’s heavyweight golden boy Justis Huni (7-0, 4KO) in their 10-round slugfest in Brisbane last November.

Lonergan believes Opelu or Leutele will be no match for Parker.

“Both are very durable fighters, but Joe’s skill set would be way too good for both of them,” he said.

“Django in particular would be cannon fodder because he gets hit a lot and Joe has vastly superior skills.

“But Django is not scared to mix it with anyone and the same goes for Kiki Leutele, who produced an outstanding fight last year against Justis Huni in Brisbane.”

AUSSIE BOXING STAR FACING $1.6M LEGAL FIGHT

Australia’s boxing world champion Jai Opetaia has been hit with a $1.6 million damages bill as his legal battle intensifies.

News Corp can reveal Opetaia’s long-time promoter Dean Lonergan continued proceedings in Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Friday in the latest chapter of his messy legal spat with the Gold Coast-based boxer.

Opetaia scored a victory in the Supreme Court last week after a judge dismissed an application from Lonergan’s company, D&L Events, for an injunction to stop the champion holding his first world-title defence next month.

Following the verdict, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis indicated the IBF cruiserweight king was set to sign with Tim Tszyu’s boxing stable, No Limit, after advising Lonergan last month of their plans to sever ties.

But Lonergan, who helped Queenslander Jeff Horn to a world title in 2017, insists Opetaia is contracted for another 15 months — until June 30, 2024 — and confirmed he is now suing the 27-year-old.

“Jai Opetaia has been hit with a damages bill for $1.6 million,” Lonergan told News Corp.

“We are adamant that a contract is a contract and you can’t just walk away from it.

“We have also asked the Supreme Court to reinstate the contract.

“We are following what the judge ordered in last week’s hearing.

“We believe we have very good grounds for damages and specific performance of the contract.

“Jai is a very talented athlete and he is contracted to us until June 2024, so we have every right that we ask that he adhere to his contract.”

Lonergan said he is seeking damages for as many as five proposed fights for the remainder of their contract, including Opetaia’s maiden world-title defence against Poland’s Mateusz Masternak, scheduled for April.

Opetaia is being sued for dual amounts of $861,678 and US$509,600 ($762,417), totalling $1,624,495.

“The damages bill consists of five fights,” Lonergan said.

“It starts with his upcoming fight against Masternak all the way through to Jai’s wish for a world-title defence in Gosford, which all would have happened during the duration of our contract.

“Jai is not only the best cruiserweight in the world, he is the toughest combat sports athlete in the world in my view and he is about to go on an incredible run in his career.”

Lonergan believes the legal stoush may yet jeopardise Opetaia’s world-title bout against Masternak.

“All of our correspondence will be sent to the IBF in the very near future,” he said.

“As it stands, this current situation puts his upcoming world title fight with Masternak at risk.”

Should the Supreme Court rule that Opetaia must honour his contract, Lonergan insists he can smoke the peace pipe with the boxing star.

“I can work with Jai moving forward, but not his current management,” he said.

“If they were to reinstate the contract, we are more than happy to continue working with Jai.

“There is recognition on our side that Jai is a superb talent and I’ve always had good dealings with Jai.

“To see him win a world title with a broken jaw last year was one of the highlights of our journey and there is no fair reason for him to walk away from a contract.”

Opetaia’s agent Francis told News Corp last week: “The judge has thrown the injunction out – Jai is free to move on with his career and do whatever he wants.

“If Dean (Lonergan) wants to try and sue for potential damages, he can do that, but as it stands right now, Jai is a world champion and a free agent.

“Jai will not lose his world title and now has the opportunity to continue his career without any issues.”

Originally published as Boxing news: Tyson Fury linked to Joseph Parker’s historic Australian fight