Tyson Fury is set to make his return from retirement this weekend and the last thing he needs is probably his dad telling him he's finished.
The 'Gypsy King' will fight Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday in a 12-round heavyweight bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a 15-month absence from the world of boxing.
Fury has been more on and off again than Ross and Rachel in recent years but while he is undoubtedly confident of his own sporting abilities, his father John seems less convinced about his prowess in the ring.
Speaking to Playbook Boxing last month, the 60-year-old said: "I think he's past his best. I'm a no-filter kind of guy - I say it how I see it. I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and telling him things that aren't true, building him up like he's invincible. He's not and he hasn't been for a while.
Advert
"Tyson has been gone since the Deontay Wilder fights, they finished him. Wilder completely done him. He's not got a leg underneath him. He's took a lot away from Tyson. Makhmudov is a problem for Tyson. I am the first one to say it."
He also made the emotional admission that their relationship is well past breaking point, suggesting that boxing was to blame, despite the sport being a huge part of what the family is best known for, apart from Tommy's Love Island cameos, relationship with Molly Mae and viral running technique.
The dad of six added: "My relationship with Tyson is destroyed. Boxing destroyed it completely. I'll say it on camera: I've never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will.
"I don't want Tyson's money and I don't need Tyson's money. Whatever he's got, good luck to him. But, don't forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn't build it himself, did he? Me, his father."
Those comments have perhaps overshadowed Fury's return somewhat and now the former heavyweight champion has spoken out to address the comments before taking on his Russian opponent this weekend.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, the 37-year-old said: "He's not happy. He wanted me to retire in 2020 after I beat Deontay Wilder.
"He's just not happy, he does not want me to box. I suppose any parent wouldn't want their kid to continue to do something they've done from being a little kid all the way to being an adult at the end of their sporting age.
"I think he's concerned. When it's your kids, when it's your close relatives or whatever, I think you feel very concerned for the individual.
"He's got his opinions and he doesn't want me to do it – he never has wanted me to do it for the past six years.
"At the end of the day, every man must bear his own cross and it's my destiny to do."
Fury, who has recently been filming the second season of his Netflix series alongside his wife Paris and their seven children, suggested that he wasn't really bothered if his father shows up to Saturday's bout or not.
"He might do, he might do, he might do. But he didn't come to the Usyk II fight so I'm not holding my breath.
"My dad will do what my dad will do, he's his own man and there's nothing I can do about it. If he turns up, great and if he doesn't, also great."
Topics: Tyson Fury, Boxing, Celebrity News
James Moorhouse