Australian heavyweight Mark de Mori has been given a brutal Day of Reckoning press conference warning by his Croatian rival, after having first promised to attack his organs and “rupture his spleen”.

The wonderfully threatening comments came during a press event where Australia’s undefeated cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia also vowed to stamp his name all over a Day of Reckong card featuring superstars like Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Dmitry Bivol.

So stacked is this Sunday’s Saudi Arabian blockbuster, promoters were forced to split the traditional fight week press conference in two on Friday.

Appearing on the first instalment, Opetaia and de Mori both promised big wins for Australian boxing – with the latter also responding to whispers he broke a sparring partner’s ribs during camp.

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It follows the 41-year-old West Australian, during fight week interviews, having promised to rupture the spleen and break the jaw of unbeaten IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic, who said during the press conference that de Mori would now pay for making things so personal.

Undefeated in all 16 fights, Hrgovic is the mandatory for IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk, who faces Tyson Fury in a hyped heavyweight unification bout in early 2024.

Should De Mori (41-2-2) pull off the upset however, it means he would be in line for an unexpected title showdown.

While Opetaia is the $1.03 TAB favourite against undefeated Englishman Ellis Zorro ($11), the Aussie heavyweight dubbed ‘Viking’ is one of the card’s greatest underdogs.

His fight week antics also appear to have seriously upset the Croatian powerhouse, who at Friday’s press conference warned: “It’s personal now”.

“Hrgovic is obviously a big favourite,” de Mori said up on stage.

“He’s a big strong guy.

“Good long punches, good chin.

“But every man is human, every man his organs.

“And with my kind of power, it’s simple.

“I’m not going to win this on points.”

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Soon after, the Aussie said that a short preparation had left him feeling explosive, while also suggesting he had “no desire” to go the 10 rounds this is scheduled for.

“I’ve got the arms of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, I’m not going to out jab him,” he said.

“I’m going to get in close and try to break him in half.

“That’s the only way it’s going to happen and that’s the way it will go.”

When then asked by the host if he could afford going toe-to-toe with Hrgovic, who has 13 KOs in 16 wins he said: “It’s the only chance I have.

“I’m not here to go rounds.

“I’m not here to do my best.

“I’m here to try and break him in half.

“And if I can’t and he knocks me out, good luck to him and his career.

“Croatia has a good fighter in Filip Hrgovic.

“I lived there 10 years. I know their style.

“I know how technical they are.

“I’m very well aware of what I’m up against.

“But I’m hard to read, I’ve got a strange style and those first few rounds before he finds his timing, that’s when I have a chance.”

De Mori also suggested the Croatian powerhouse was “overlooking me” before adding: “And I’d overlook me too if I was him … (but) I’m going to try and break him in half.”

To all of which Hrgovic, first up, responded with a song.

“Let’s get down, let’s get down to business,” he started, grinning as he sang.

Then, turning serious, he continued: “Look, I had plan for this guy to let him box a few rounds.

“But because of these nasty words, I will need to punish him earlier.

“He has some Croatian roots and I had planned to be nice with him.

“But this change everything, man.

“I need to punish this guy … really, really bad.

“Like he stole something.”

Asked to respond, de Mori said: “I expect him to try and make a big statement.

“That’s what he’s here to do.

“I’ve been brought in, there’s a script, it’s up to me to try and flip it.

“He should be trying to knock me out.

“Should be trying to hurt me.

“This isn’t the soccer World Cup. This is a fight, we’re gladiators … we shake hands and we go for it”.

At which point, Hrgovic leaned into his microphone and said: “It’s personal now”.

Elsewhere, Australia’s cruiserweight king Opetaia also promised to stamp his name all over the blockbuster Day of Reckoning card.

Despite relinquishing his IBF strap this week in favour of the Middle Eastern cash now available to him, the Central Coast product insisted his focus has not waivered.

Asked if anything had been a distraction, he said: “Not at all.

“I’m pumped.

“Pumped to be here.

“I feel like this is a massive thing for boxing.

“The best fight the best.

“This is a massive change and the name Opetaia will be on it.

“I’m here to make a statement.”

On Zorro, he continued: “This is his chance to become a world champion.

“You want to be the best, you got to beat the best. And here I am.

“I’m expecting the best version of him.

“I’ve prepared for the best version of him.

“I’m ready to go to war.”

But as for needing a statement KO?

“It doesn’t need to be a knockout, just a great performance,” he said.

“I believe this is just the next step towards becoming the undisputed cruiserweight king.”

The Englishman, meanwhile, said he was ready for the “massive challenge” presented by Opetaia, who has retained The Ring championship belt.

“He’s a great fighter,” Zorro said. “I was a fan of his, fan of his style.

“Great footwork, great hand speed, game, he took a shot.

“He’ll definitely be able to test me and I look forward to that.”