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John Fury (born 22 May 1965) is an Irish boxing cornerman and former professional boxer 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, who he is the head trainer for. He is also uncle to heavyweight boxer Hughie Fury.

Early life

Fury was born on 22 May 1965 in Tuam, Galway, Ireland, into a family of Irish Traveller heritage. He moved to Manchester, England, at the age of four 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.

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.

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. 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".

More recently, Fury appeared in the ITV documentary series Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King detailing the road to his son's rematch with Wilder. 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.

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

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

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. He was released from prison in February 2015.

Media appearances

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

Professional boxing record

References

1. "Boxing record for John Fury". BoxRec.
2. Radhyan, Chirag (1 May 2023). ""Don't Mess With Children": Tyson Fury's Uncle Sends Out a Message to the World". EssentiallySports. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
3. Casey, Jamie (14 April 2016). "John Fury says Tyson does not command respect as he's a Traveller". The Irish Post. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
4. ^ "BoxRec John Fury | BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
5. "Tyson Fury's father John delivers rant at press conference |". SkySports.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
6. "David Haye and John Fury clash over Deontay Wilder rematch with Tyson Fury |". metro.co.uk. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
7. "Deontay Wilder is not fit to carry Anthony Joshua's jockstrap". Joe magazine.
8. ^ "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. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
9. contenteditor (15 March 2022). "John Fury joins Freebets.com as brand ambassador". IGB Affiliate. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
10. "John Fury reacts to headbutting 'little idiot' on Oleksandr Usyk's team". 14 May 2024.
11. "Tyson Fury's father keen to help his son after prison release". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
12. "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. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
13. Dickinson, Matt (30 November 2015). "Sorry, but we should not salute this appalling bigot Tyson Fury". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 8 September 2021.

• Living people
• Irish male boxers
• Sportspeople from Tuam
• Fury family
• Boxers from County Galway
• Irish people convicted of assault
• 1965 births