John Fury says relationship with son Tyson is ‘completely destroyed’ in emotional admission
John Fury has revealed that his relationship with his son Tyson is fractured beyond repair - and said he believes that the former world heavyweight champ is 'past his best'.
In a bombshell new interview, the patriarch of the famous family opened up about his ongoing feud with the 37-year-old and how the sport beloved by both of them proved to be their downfall.
"My relationship with Tyson is destroyed," John dramatically announced. "Boxing destroyed it completely."
The father-of-six has been a constant in Tyson's corner throughout his illustrious career, but now, he's refusing to even tune into his upcoming clash with Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April.
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Although he said his son could still pull off a 'sensational' win next month, John warned: "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 told Playbook Boxing. "He's not, and he hasn't been for a while."
John - who is renowned for his impassioned outbursts and unfiltered commentary - claims that the Gypsy King has 'been gone' since going up against Deontay Wilder in a historic heavyweight trilogy.
"They finished him," he said of the bouts. "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.
"Listen, I understand now that Tyson is testing himself. But, I can tell you now, his legs aren't there anymore. I understand the only way he will believe that and see that is when the first bell rings."
John spoke about his son's glory days with the sentiment that they were already over, rather than ongoing - saying Tyson 'was a formidable man', but no longer packs the same punch.
"When you fight one of the hardest punchers in boxing history three times, it takes something out of you that you never get back," he continued. "You can't refill that tank to what it once was."
According to John, people have been 'filling [Tyson's] head with nonsense' over the last 18 months and he claimed that certain figures have actively driven a wedge between them.
He believes that those in Tyson's entourage have been a hindrance rather than a help to his son's career and coldly branded his trainer SugarHill Steward 'useless', and a 'complete waste of space' who has 'been ruining Tyson'.
"The team is b*****s - the lot of them," John fumed. "Same squad, same nonsense," while then alleging a number of people were only hanging around the boxer to 'pick up a pay check'.
"I said to him, 'if you can't do the blood-and-guts training, it's over'," John went on. "And he can't do that anymore. Now, he's just going through the motions with these idiots.
"And when you go up against men like these young guns - six foot seven, eighteen stone, strong, fit - they can tire you out. And you only realise that when you're actually in the ring."
It appears the patriarch of the Fury family feels most cut up about his son ignoring his advice in favour of taking heed of others.
John said: "If you can't show your father respect when it matters, then just carry on. I don't need you. He's taken their word over mine. And that's eaten me up, more than I can explain.
"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."
John warned that he thinks things wouldn't go well for Tyson if he does every step back into the ring with Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated him for a second time in 2024, allowing him to remain the heavyweight champion of the world.
Sharing his bleak outlook, the dad said: "Tyson's getting weaker and Usyk's getting stronger.
"All I ever said to him was this: if I’d been in his corner and he got into trouble, he wouldn’t die. But if he gets into trouble with them in his corner, he could end up dead or with brain damage for life.
"Because when your legs are gone, you need someone to save you. They won’t do that. They won’t throw the towel in. They won’t pull him out.
"Their egos are bigger than Tyson, bigger than the fight itself. And that’s how people get seriously hurt in this game. You’ve seen it before - one shot, bang, and it’s over. It can happen just like that.
"It’s a dangerous sport. All I’m saying is, let them get on with it. I want nothing. I’ve got this place, I’ve got my own home- I’ve had it for 40 years. It’s mine. I don’t owe anybody anything. I live my own life."
Topics: Sport, Boxing, Celebrity, Tyson Fury, Parenting
Olivia Burke