Father of the current WBC Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury, John, has been extremely vocal of his desire to fight Mike Tyson on the undercard of his son’s showdown with Francis Ngannou. Now, the fifty-nine-year-old has detailed why he believes he may have the edge over the heavyweight boxing legend.
John Fury’s time in the ring began in 1987, where he lost on debut to Rugby League player, Adam Fogerty. However, Fury bounced back from disappointment on his debut to put together a string of wins and earned himself a shot at the Central Area heavyweight title, losing out to Neil Malpass in a close-fought bout.
Wins over Michael Murray and Cesare Di Benedetto appeared to put him back on track, until he was faced with the later-crowned WBO heavyweight champion, Henry Akinwande, who handed Fury his first knockout defeat in what turned out to be his penultimate fight.
Now, Fury aims to take on three-time heavyweight champion, ‘Iron’ Mike, the man who his son was named after, and he told Rob Moore of the reason why he believes he could pull off the upset.
“I’m definitely not teasing, I want to fight him.
Win, lose or draw, I will fight Mike Tyson, don’t you worry about that. I know the Saudi’s can make it happen.
I had eight wins, I beat the Italian Heavyweight Champion. He was six-foot-seven and a half, eighteen stone, he was the heavyweight champion and I beat him. I beat the man, who beat the man, who beat him [Mike Tyson].
Kevin McBride, stopped Mike Tyson, didn’t he? Michael Murray stopped Kevin McBride, and I stopped Michael Murray. So I am in with a chance. He’s f***ed and I’m f***ed, but I think that I am in a little bit of a better condition than him and I know that I am every bit as strong as him.
If he chins me, he chins me, but I’ll try and chin him also.”
It’s hard to imagine the former heavyweight champion accepting ‘Big John’s offer, but stranger things have happened in boxing.
Fury-Ngannou takes place on October 28th, live on TNT Sports Box Office, with three heavyweight clashes lined up for the undercard.