John Fury Explained

John Fury
Birth Name:John Fury
Birth Date:1965 5, df=y
Birth Place:Tuam, Galway, Ireland[1]
Known For:Professional boxing
Height:6 ft 3 in
Children:6, including Tyson and Tommy

John Fury (born 22 May 1965) is an Irish boxing cornerman and former professional boxer[2] and bare-knuckle fighter. He is best known for being the father of two-time heavyweight boxing world champion Tyson Fury, as well as reality television personality and professional boxer Tommy Fury. He is also uncle to heavyweight boxer Hughie Fury.[3]

Early life

Fury was born on May 22, 1965 in Tuam, Galway, Ireland into a family of Irish Traveller heritage. He moved to Manchester, England at the age of 4 due to his father not being able to find work in his native Ireland. Fury claims descent from a long line of bare-knuckle fighters.[1]

Professional career

Fury's professional boxing career spanned eight years, beginning in April 1987 and ending in June 1995. In total, he was involved in 13 bouts.

He made his professional debut on 28 April 1987 when he lost to rugby league player Adam Fogerty in Halifax, West Yorkshire. From there Fury went on to win his next six fights until a draw with David Hopkins in Helsinki on 13 February 1989.

He was rewarded by a shot at the vacant Central Area title against Neil Malpass but lost on points.

After that he rebounded with wins against Michael Murray, a future British title challenger and Cesare Di Benedetto, a future Italian title challenger.

However in his next fight Fury suffered a KO loss against future WBO champion Henry Akinwande.

This loss was followed by a four year absence from the ring until Fury returned against former opponent Steve Garber in Manchester in 1995; he was knocked out again inside four rounds.

Fury finished his career with the record of 8–4–1.

Public image

Fury has been involved in many high-profile situations whilst supporting his son Tyson. After Tyson Fury defeated reigning 11-year champion Wladimir Klitschko in Düsseldorf on 27 November 2015, John Fury criticised the media for their lack of faith, exhorted them to "stop being yes men" then ordered everybody in the room to give his son a standing ovation for his achievement.[4]

In the build-up to Tyson's rematch with Deontay Wilder, Fury was involved in a heated dispute with former heavyweight boxer David Haye over his son's chances before the fight. Fury stated that Wilder would 'crack' given that Tyson was no longer "as weak as a kitten" unlike in their previous controversial draw. He told BT Sport, "A man when he's pressured and he's in a hard time, he'll crack at the seams", before offering Haye a £1,000,000 bet on whether he would be proven correct, which he was.[5] Fury's verbal tirades often verge on the obscene when, for example, he publicly belittled Deontay Wilder stating that he "is not fit to carry Anthony Joshua's jockstrap".[6]

More recently, Fury appeared in the ITV documentary series Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King detailing the road to his son's rematch with Wilder.[7] Fury appears many times but most notably in one of the final scenes showing his live reaction to the fight as he watched on a television at the BT Studios.[7]

In March 2022, Fury was confirmed as a brand ambassador for the sports betting website, Freebets.com.[8]

In May 2024, he was seen headbutting a member of Oleksandr Usyk entourage during a pre-match scuffle.[9]

Criminal conviction

In 2011, Fury was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for gouging a man's eye out in a brawl in 2010. He was handed an 11-year sentence. The victim was left half-blind after a 12-year dispute erupted in violence at a car auction in 2010, with Fury getting the victim in a headlock and forcing his fingers into the victim's eyes.[10] [11] He was released from prison in February 2015.[12]

Media appearances

Fury has appeared on many British television broadcasts, including live shows, pre-recorded programmes and documentaries.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
13Loss8–4–1Steve GarberKO4 (6), 10 Jun 1995
12Loss8–3–1Henry Akinwande3 (8)9 Oct 1991
11Win8–2–1Cesare Di BenedettoPTS1016 Feb 1991
10Win7–2–1Michael Murray6 (8), 2 Jun 1990
9Loss6–2–1Neil MalpassPTS1021 Jun 1989
8Draw6–1–1David Hopkins613 Feb 1989
7Win6–1Abner BlackstockPTS826 Sep 1988
6Win5–1Ian PriestPTS629 Mar 1988
5Win4–1Michael MurrayPTS623 Feb 1988
4Win3–1Mick CordonPTS63 Dec 1987
3Win2–1Paul SheldonPTS410 Nov 1987
2Win1–1Steve GarberPTS67 Oct 1987
1Loss0–1Adam Fogerty428 Apr 1987

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Casey. Jamie. 14 April 2016. John Fury says Tyson does not command respect as he's a Traveller. 19 September 2020. The Irish Post.
  2. Web site: BoxRec John Fury BoxRec. boxrec.com. en. 2020-03-24.
  3. News: "Don’t Mess With Children": Tyson Fury’s Uncle Sends Out a Message to the World . Radhyan . Chirag . 1 May 2023 . EssentiallySports. 8 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Tyson Fury's father John delivers rant at press conference . SkySports.com. en. 2020-03-24.
  5. Web site: David Haye and John Fury clash over Deontay Wilder rematch with Tyson Fury . metro.co.uk. 8 February 2020 . en. 2020-03-24.
  6. "Deontay Wilder is not fit to carry Anthony Joshua's jockstrap". Joe magazine. https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/john-fury-slams-deontay-wilder-stating-that-he-couldnt-carry-ajs-jockstrap-292233
  7. Web site: Watch as John Fury grabs his crotch and shouts, 'That's what come out of these balls,' after Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder . talkSport. en. 2020-03-24.
  8. Web site: contenteditor . 2022-03-15 . John Fury joins Freebets.com as brand ambassador . 2022-12-09 . IGB Affiliate . en-US.
  9. https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/5/14/24156835/john-fury-has-no-regrets-about-headbutting-little-idiot-oleksandr-usyk-team-happens-every-other-week
  10. News: Tyson Fury's father keen to help his son after prison release. BBC Sport. 1 February 2015.
  11. Web site: Father of boxing champion Tyson Fury jailed for gouging a man's eye out after a 12 year feud over a bottle of beer . Manchester Evening News . 14 February 2011. 1 January 2013.
  12. News: Dickinson. Matt. 2015-11-30. Sorry, but we should not salute this appalling bigot Tyson Fury. en. The Times. subscription. 2021-09-08. 0140-0460.