TYSON FURY is leaving no sparring stone unturned with a handful of top-quality lefties preparing him for Oleksandr Usyk.
The planet’s No1 southpaw cruiserweight Jai Opetaia has had to leave the Riyadh camp as he now has a fight on the February 17 undercard and needs to prepare specifically for his rematch with Mairis Briedis.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight title next monthCredit: EPA
The pair will take part in the first undisputed heavyweight fight in over 25 yearsCredit: GETTY
The WBC heavyweight king give his first glimpse at his secretive training camp this past weekendCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
Undefeated Canadian Alexis Barriere, South Africa’s Kevin Lerena and Brit prospect Moses Itauma are Fury’s chief sparring partners. Fury’s camp also includes his first amateur coach Steve Egan (green shirt front row), as well as current head trainer Sugarhill Steward (second row, second from last on right). Strength and conditioning coach Kristian Blacklock (second-row lime green shirt) and nutritionist Greg Marriott (on Fury’s left) are also in Riyadh to whip The Gypsy King into fighting shape. Fury has also brought his massage therapist massage Matt Towey (behind the camera) to keep him limber.Fury’s cousin Issac Lowe (second row fourth from last) has also made the trip out to Riyadh, as well as featherweight prospect Joe McGuinness (second row second from last on right. Former WBC women’s featherweight champ Jelena Mrdjenovich (front row on the left) is also part of camp Brother Shane (next to Barriere) is also in the Kingdom camp.Credit: INSTAGRAM@MATTMASSAGE96
But Team Fury is still brimming with unorthodox talent from all over the world.
Including Britain’s most exciting prospect, the South African underdog who almost knocked out giant Daniel Dubois and a huge unbeaten Canadian.
Tyson Fury’s sparring partners
Alexis Barriere
From: Canada
Age: 28
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 11-0 (9KOs)
The least famous member of the new Fury fraternity but an eye-catching shape and early record.
The 6ft 4in Quebec puncher turned pro in 2021 and has raced into double figures and a healthy number of early finishes.
Barriere only boxed out of Canada a couple of times – as a raw amateur and a pro – but already looks at home among the Traveller clan in Saudi Arabia.
The heavy-handed unknown is one inch taller than Usyk but usually boxes close to the same 16st the Ukraine icon prefers since moving up from cruiserweight.
Kevin Barriere is undefeated in 11 professional fightsCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALEXIS_BARRIERE
Despite struggling to make a huge name for himself, so far, Barriere has done sparring rounds with established names like Filip Hrgovic and Oscar Rivas.
Kevin Lerena
From: South Africa
Age: 31
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 30-2
The Johannesburg tough guy would be forgiven for hating British boxers after his cruel loss to Daniel Dubois in December 2022.
The visitor – boxing DDD on the undercard of Fury’s trilogy fight with Derek Chisora at Spurs – almost pulled off a sensational upset.
Cherry picked as a warm-up opponent for Dubois to prepare for Usyk, Lerena was supposed to pose a few problems and collapse.
South African Kevin Lerena is doing his best to imitate Usyk’s unorthodox styleCredit: AP
But he clipped Dubois around the temple and the loss of balance and belief sent him to the canvas three times in the opening rounds.
Then trainer Shane McGuigan did a superb job in helping Dubois recover and he scored a stoppage win in round three.
Lerena bounced back with two wins last year and is the perfect size and stance to imitate Usyk.
His heavy hands and solid resolve will also make him an ideal training partner for Fury to work alongside.
Lerena almost knocked out Brit Daniel Dubois in December 2022Credit: GETTY
Moses Itauma
From: EnglandAge: 19Stance: SouthpawRecord: 7-0
What sort of 19-year-old dreams of fighting Tyson Fury for Christmas? This special one.
In September the freakishly talented teen told us: “I know everyone wants to see the Fury vs Usyk fight for all of the belts but I only really want it so I hopefully get the chance to spar Tyson.
“I’m no help with the Ngannou fight but I do think I am ideal for Usyk so hopefully I get to go soon and learn from him.”
Thanks to manager Francis Warren, Itauma is in Riyadh right now imitating all the skills and threats that Usyk poses to the Gypsy King, while preparing for his eighth professional outing on the undercard.
With Opetaia now removed, Itauma has probably been promoted inside the ranks, too.
It will be a magnificent learning curve for the Kent wonderkid – who has been made mandatory challenger for the English title and plans to reign after the Fury-Usyk-AJ era winds down.
Undefeated Brit heavyweight Moses Itauma is giving Tyson Fury plenty of looks in campCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
The 19-year-old has blasted through all seven of his professional opponentsCredit: RICHARD PELHAMThe rest of Team Fury
Kristian Blackblock – Strength and Conditioning coach
Greg Marriott – Nutritionist
Matt Towey – Sports Massage Therapist
Prince John James Fury – Son
Issac Lowe – Training Partner and Cousin
Jelena Mrdjenovich – Former WBC female super featherweight champion and training partner
Joe McGuinness – Undefeated featherweight prospect
