Tyson Fury's brother, Shane Fury, has hit back at claims the 35-year-old was dropped by Jai Opetaia in sparring prior to his fight with Oleksandr Usyk being delayed.
Fury had been due to face Usyk on February 17. However, their showdown has been pushed back to May after the Gypsy King sustained a serious cut above his eye.
Over the past few weeks, Fury's training camp has been scrutinised.
And there have been rumours that Opetaia, who had been sparring with Fury, knocked the veteran to the canvas.
Tyson Fury's brother has addressed controversial rumours ahead of his fight with Oleksandr Usyk
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However, Shane has now slammed those rumours and insisted he would 'be straight' if they were true.
Speaking to Boxing King Media, he said: “I can assure you he [Opetaia] never dropped anyone.
"If he beat Tyson up I would tell you that ‘yeah he’s a very good man and whatever’ – be straight.
"I wouldn’t be saying anything if Tyson did the same with him – they’re spar stories.
“A load of rubbish – that obviously never happened, just never happened.
"But people will believe exactly what they want to believe. Any little bit of negative, they can get views off them. I suppose it’s the business.
“These people – if they’re doing 100 videos a month, 85 of them is off Tyson, negativeness.”
Shane also said his brother had never been dropped by anyone in sparring during the course of his career.
He continued: “Tyson’s never ever been dominated, in the whole process of a spar.
"He’s gone in there and he’s been tired on occasions. You’re not yourself every day in training. If you are, you’re not training hard enough.
“Even in them tired moments, he’s never been dominated, he’s never been beat up. Never ever.
"With sparring partners – listen he’s had some really good ones – Moses (Itauma), just unbelievable, he’s an unbelievable talent, just turned 19 – he’s had a few fights. Very good sparring for Tyson.
“But as far as Tyson getting beat up by anyone and dropped.
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk had been due to fight this month
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"Tyson’s never ever been dropped in sparring, ever – he looks like he’s got a f***ing glass chin in the ring – but never in sparring has he been dropped.”
After the fight with Usyk was delayed, Fury took to social media to show off images of his slimmer physique.
Shane says his sibling was in great shape for his standards, joking that Fury's 'love handles' were disappearing.
“He was in really good shape – and I don’t mean good shape for a bodybuilder, good shape for Tyson," he added.
"Down in weight, slim, big shoulders, big set of arms, love handles disappearing. Looking well.”
Tyson Fury's brother has rubbished rumours that Jai Opetaia dropped his brother in sparring
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Fury and Usyk will now go up against each other on May 18.
And the Gypsy King has already admitted he's targeting a second fight with the Ukrainian, as well as future bouts with Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.
