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Boxer Tyson Fury and his father do not appear to have a close, or even friendly, relationship, at least according to the elder Fury’s latest public comments.
“My relationship with Tyson is destroyed,” John said during an appearance on Playbook Boxing. This statement stands in stark contrast to John’s time as a mentor to his son.
John said the rift between father and son stemmed from Tyson’s decision to fight Oleksandr Usyk twice. He also cited Tyson’s loss to Deontay Wilder after urging him to turn down those fights.
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John Fury and Tyson Fury react during a press conference before the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou boxing match at Boulevard Hall on October 26, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“I begged and prayed with him before the first fight,” John said. “He had already gone through a full training camp, and then he was ruled out last week. He was exhausted from that camp. You can’t just have three weeks off and then go straight to seven more weeks. That’s what happened.”
“The Gypsy King” has lost two fights in a row to Usyk. He lost by split decision in the first meeting and by unanimous decision in the rematch.
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Fury announced his retirement in January 2025, about a month after the second loss to Usyk.
“Hey everyone, I’ll keep this short and sweet. I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing,” Fury said at the time. “It’s been great, I’ve loved every minute of it, and I’ll end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everyone, see you on the other side.”
In January, Fury announced plans to come out of retirement and return to boxing in 2026, but his father believes his best days are behind him.
John Fury, father of Tyson Fury, before the Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2026, in London. (Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
“I think he’s past his best,” John said. “I’m a no-filter guy – I tell it like I see it. I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and saying things to him that aren’t true, building him up like he’s invincible. He’s not, and he hasn’t been for a while.
Tyson Fury in the stands at the O2 Arena in London, October 25, 2025. (Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images)
“I wanted to strangle Sugar afterwards,” John said in reference to the meetings with Usyk. “He’s not Emanuel Steward – he’s nothing like him. He’s just a gym sweeper. That’s all he’s ever been.”
Fury is set to face Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
