TWO-TIME world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury must fight Dillian Whyte later this month without the support of his regular cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran.
Unable to travel for the fight, Duran has been replaced by British cornerman Frank Hopkins.
Tyson Fury will defend his world heavyweight title against Dillian Whyte on 23 April
Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran will not be ringside to support Tyson Fury at Wembley
Hopkins, who is one of the most well-known cutmen in Britain, was recommended to Fury by promoter Frank Warren, according to the Mirror.
Since Fury switched to American trainer SugarHill Steward, Duran has twice witnessed the Gypsy King beat Deontay Wilder from the corner.
But the British boxer will now be without the legendary cutman during his UK bout with Whyte on 23 April.
Hopkins built his ringside reputation whilst overseeing Tony Oakley’s rise to stardom.
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The Portsmouth-born cornerman helped the former boxer become world, Commonwealth and British light heavyweight champion across his 12-year career.
In total, Hopkins has been involved in 36 world title fights – but none quite as big as the blockbuster Fury-Whyte showdown at Wembley.
It is expected that a whopping 94,000 fans will pack the arena to watch the brawl.
The famously grisly cut Fury received against Swedish boxer Otto Wallin in 2019 almost marred his undefeated record, as he was forced to fight through the next nine rounds with the wound.
Wallin eventually lost to Fury by way of unanimous decision, suffering the only defeat of his career so far.
Fury hasn’t thrown a punch in a UK ring since his victory against Francesco Pianeta in Belfast in 2018.
