Hearn has echoed Opetaia's team's remarks, insisting any suggestion that Fury was put on his backside in sparring as "complete rubbish".

He told talkSPORT: "I saw the piece yesterday with Johnny Nelson and Spencer Oliver.

"Johnny Nelson was adamant that Fury had been dropped in sparring by Jai Opetaia.

"Jai Opetaia is with Matchroom, he's a tremendous fighter. As far as I can see, it's absolute rubbish.

"Jai Opetaia flew in, he did five rounds with Tyson Fury. I mean, he will set about him as he always does, but as I understand it nobody got hurt or dropped in the spar.

"Then after that Jai went back because it's all southpaws in [Fury's] training camp [to prepare for Usyk], and he's fighting Mairis Briedis who's an orthodox fighter.

"So I think it's absolute rubbish, sparring stories are sparring stories.

"As I understand it, Fury's having a great camp and I think he's taking it very seriously.

"I expect a much better Tyson Fury in this fight against Usyk. Usyk looks razor focused and sharp. It's a 50/50 fight.

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